Barb's World

The Second Half

I took a trip to Minnesota this month to visit dear friends from high school…one of which I haven't seen in 32 years!  It was as though no time had passed…we didn’t skip a beat…picked up right where we left off all those years ago.  In looking back on the past 30+ years we felt some regret that we didn’t appreciate one another more in those days.  We were so young and naïve and had no idea what life had in store for us.  We were filled with dreams, hope and the promise of a great future.  I don't think we truly realized how much stepping forward on our path would change us all in the years to come.  We leave home and often leave our hometown to search for fulfillment and happiness…looking to make a mark in the world and establish a home of our own.

As we travel the road of life we encounter many people, very few of whom we have that special connection with, who become lifelong friends…family. I am truly blessed by so many dear, true friends...both old and new.  “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver, the other gold.”  For me, all my friends are gold.

I love that we are on this side of what we once looked forward to, even though for some it may not be all that we had expected or hoped for. I smile when I think of the “second half” of our lives, and that we are still filled with hope and promise for the future.  It has nothing to do with our successes or failures. It’s the same hope and promise we had in our youth, and that we will always have…

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:12

 

© 2010 Barb Weatherwax

The Vine

Everyone who lives here or who's been to Hilton Head knows that it's dark at night....very dark.  When I walk our dog at night I take a flashlight with me just in case a car comes by - I turn it on so they know we're there on the road. Awhile back there was a vine hanging from a huge tree, which dangled into the street.  Actually, it was several vines (you know the ones I'm talking about) and had tree branches and spanish moss entwined in it.  I knew that vine was there because I saw it in the daylight.   I don't need the flashlight at night because I know the street because I've walked the dog on it for 8 years.  I know the vine is there, so I when I get to that part of the street I know to walk around it. Well one night it had shifted somehow and when I came to that part of the street I didn't walk far enough around it and walked right into it.  Needless to say, it scared the you-know-what out of me. 

I was walking the dog the other night with my dear friend who came to visit.  We walked and chatted, in the dark.  It suddenly came to me that although I know where I'm going, my friend had never walked on my street and realized she was walking in pitch black darkness without a clue as to where she was stepping!  I turned on the flashlight immediatley so she could see the street.  Not that she was scared, but her steps were uncertain as she was concerned about tripping. 

I sometimes find myself walking through my days without giving a second thought because I "know" the terrain.  There are days that I just do without asking God's guidance.  Just when I think things are moving along nicely, I hit the dangling vines. Suddenly I need that flashlight.  The treacherous vines are like satan in our lives.  We think we have a handle on him and next thing you know we're caught up in something.  Suddenly God says, "hey did you forget I was here? Turn on the Light."

I can get comfortable with the routine and kind of side-step Him in little things. Some days I postpone devotions to the end of my day and I run out of time. Funny thing, these are the days I seem to encounter more obstacles or difficulties, or just don't feel on track.  I need to start my journey each day with the light of the Word as a guide, just as I need my flashlight on my walks at night. Even when we think we know what we're doing or where we're going, we really don't! I don't know what I might come across, no matter how well I think I know my path.  He's not there "just in case" you need Him.  He's there period.  When God, who rules over all darkness, sheds Light on our paths through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, He makes our way clear. Others can also see that Light in our lives. Isn't that what it's all about?  But we have to turn that light on...of what use is He if we just say we have Him in our hearts but don't rely on Him? 

"Send forth your light and your truth,
   let them guide me;
   let them bring me to your holy mountain,
   to the place where you dwell. "   - Psalm 43:3

© 2010 Barb Weatherwax

The Life of a Child

I've spent my first days of this year reflecting on 2009.  In looking back on Promiseland at the Hilton Head Campus in 2009, I am overhwhelmed with gratitude and respect for the men and women who faithfully serve in Promiseland with a glad heart and passion for our ministry.  Your smiling faces, can-do attitudes and tender hearts for children have encouraged and humbled me.  Although you serve our amazing Lord and Savior, each and every one of you has blessed me in many ways - ways in which I'm sure you are completely unaware.  It is my prayer that you are also richly blessed as you serve on our team.  Children on our campus have heard, from you, about the incredible gift of salvation, and many have accepted this gift in 2009. You make a difference!

This was my blog post from October 23, 2008...it reminded me of why we do what we do:

I've been thinking alot about our LCC children and our role in their futures.  It's so important to teach children who God is!  It can be as simple as showing them the love of God in the way we interact with them.  It starts with babies in reading bible stories and singing songs with them.   As they grow they become more engaged and actively involved in the stories and music.  The minds and hearts of children are open to learning and they really enjoy hearing the truths of God's word! Children are vital in sharing the truth - they will become pastors, pastor's wives, youth leaders, elders, missionaries, prayer warriors, teachers, musicians, and parents. I am blessed to partner with a great team of teachers and parents whose hearts are dedicated to making learning about our Jesus desirable to children. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for countless people who shared Jesus with me and invested their lives in MY future.  Are you investing in a young soul?

"I thank my God every time I remember you." - Philippians 1:3

© 2010 Barb Weatherwax

A Fresh Start

A new year is a new beginning for many. Did you know that each and every day that you wake up is a new beginning?  We really get a second chance every single day. A chance to begin again.   A chance to be better than before. A chance to make a difference.  A chance to restore what we've lost.  A chance to believe. A chance to reconnect.  A chance to right wrongs.  A chance to choose your path. A chance at a fresh start...the choice is mine...and yours.

 

Choose to be honest. Choose to be transparent. Choose to be kind. Choose to work hard. Choose to be unselfish. Choose to make time for others. Choose to do the right thing. Choose to love.  Choose to look ahead. Choose to be real. Choose His Son...he is Life.

 

I trust in the one and only, Almighty God. He gives me a second chance every minute of every day.  He waits for me to choose His will over mine and when I am foolish or selfish, He gives me another opportunity to turn to Him, and He waits.   He has big plans for me.  He has planned what is best for me...and you. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I can say this every morning.  When I seek His ways, His face, His will, He will reveal Himself to me.  He waits for me...every day.  He is ever faithful.

 

He's waiting for you again this year. Look for Him...for your chance to start anew...to choose Life.

 

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  -Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

© 2010 Barb Weatherwax

 

Within or Without

Ever feel like giving up?  I do. Sometimes things in life are just more than I think I can handle.  Notice I said "I think I can handle."  Well, as it so happens, it is.  The fact of the matter is that I can't handle anything on my own.  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  I have to remind myself that I CAN handle anything that comes my way, as long as I keep my eyes upward.  I ask myself where my focus is...within or without.  Two things that help me focus on God and keep growing are being connected to God and fellowship with other believers.  This is true for most Christians, both the faithful and the struggling.

Throughout my life I have struggled with feelings of low self esteem and inadequacy.  I have tried for years to figure out why and sometimes I think I may have it figured out.  Whatever the cause, when that sense of inadequacy hits me, I feel like hiding from people and even from God. I want to retreat into myself. The problem is that this is the opposite of what I need. When I feel like pulling back, I need to resist the urge to withdraw.  Satan loves to get us alone - it's when we are most vulnerable.  I need to stay connected to my Creator and to those who love me.

I am reminded this time of year of the incredible love that God has for all of us. Even me. I have trouble understanding it and often times am overwhelmed by it.  I think of the depth that my mother loved me and try to relate it somehow to God's amazing love. She always wanted the best for me. Always sacrificed for me. Always loved me, no matter what I did or didn't do.   We loved each other unconditionally and she never betrayed that love. It's the most pure human love I've experienced.

Christ's love for us is so deep and intense I can only imagine that the unconditional way my mother loved me is just a glimpse of His love for me. From this perspective I find it hard to believe that I could be worthy of such a love.  News flash...I'm not.  He loves me anyway.  Amazing love. How can it be?

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax

Indescribable Love

I've been reading Jeremiah 33 for 3 days.  A friend asked me what these verses meant to me. I think that for every person who reads it, there could be a different meaning. Each time I read it I get something different from it.  God assured Jeremiah as He assures us that all we have to do is call out to Him and He will answer us. He already knows what we need and what we will pray for, but I think He wants us to acknowledge his sovereignty in everything...that we cannot do anything without Him. He also reminds us that when we are confused or in our darkest times He can give us clarity when we ask for help. 

No matter how distraught, destroyed or broken any person or situation is, He can restore it  and make it better than before.  He can make US better than before.  He can impart His wisdom and strength to us to give us an advantage over the enemy, but we must be humble, genuine and also give Him the glory.

Sometimes the Lord give us an extra measure of foresight and wisdom to "know" or "see" the outcome of a situation. I believe He does this through the Holy Spirit.  Often times it can seem like intuition, or just that gut feeling that directs us to make a decision. I must remind myself though, that the decision I am making must be in accordance with His Word.  If it isn't, then its probably not of God, but my own will.  I know from experience that this is usually the long way around to the destination God has for me.  Not only is it the long way, it's usually the hard way.

This passage also reminds me of His great compassion.  That all He truly wants is the best for His children. We have to lose our pride and call out to Him for His help and direction.  We have to be "in tune" with Him to hear His voice clearly. The key is less of self, and more of Him. 

Jeremiah 33 speaks of God's promise of restoration. He forgives and puts back into place things as they were before.  He repositions things as they were before.  To reposition something means "the return of something, such as a bone, to its proper position."  Verse 11 tells us  "give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever."   

So as we embrace this season of celebration of our Savior's birth, let us remember that it was to give us a second chance and to restore the relationship between man and God.  To resposition us.

May you be richly blessed by the indescribable love of an Almighty God, demonstrated in the birth of Jesus!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax

"I Just Want To Be Happy"

Ever say this?  EVERYONE has said it at some point in life.  What makes you happy?  I love chocolate chip cookies right from the oven and when I eat them I feel happy. The more I eat, the more I want.  I could eat them every day...maybe skip a real meal and eat them instead. A regular meal is what I should eat...but the cookies smell so good...Yes!  Sounds like a great idea! However, that feeling changes because I eat too many and feel sick to my stomach.  They tasted so good while I ate them...didn't feel sick until I ate too many.  Now what.  I need to find something else to make me happy, so I can forget how unhappy I am because of those cookies...wait...how can something that made me so happy make me so miserable now? 

Our small group has been studying the Beatitudes.  Each lesson is titled "Happy Are The ..."  The one that sticks with me is Happy Are The Hungry. What are the Beatitudes, anyway?  They come from the opening verses of the famous Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus and they are found in Matthew 5:3-12.  I found this definition at about.com:

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The phrase "blessed are" in each of the beatitudes implies a current state of happiness or well-being. The expression held powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of the day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are" those who possess these inward qualities. While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promises a future reward.

To enter the kingdom we must be poor in spirit, mourn over our sin, come into meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, show mercy to others, and desire purity of heart.  As followers of Christ we aspire to become like Jesus, but there are times when we are less faithful and sometimes we are blatantly disobedient.  These qualities are still a part of who we are, so how did we fall into this pit of disobedience?

We all seek happiness and fulfillment, and both unbelievers and believers seek it in the wrong places.  Worldly happiness is based on emotion and emotions change like the wind.  They're unstable, fleeting and unpredictable.  Emotions can make us vulnerable and Satan loves that!  We spend our days looking for what God already wants to give us. When we come into God's presence on His terms, not only are we in His will but He gives us the very things we tried to get on our own anyway.  Why knock yourself out trying to get something that only HE can provide?

I know I really need to hunger for what is in God's heart, so He can transform mine. But for this to happen I have to let go. Ever try to resolve something on your own? Try to work your way out of a trial in life?  You'll wear yourself out, end right where you started but more exhausted and confused, and very likely worse off than before.  Even if we're in a trial because of our own choices, God is in our trials and is working His perfect purpose for our lives.  Hard to see this when we're in it, but when we surrender our struggles completely, and acknowledge that He can do anything, this is when His power shines. Complete surrender.  It depends on perfect trust in his ability to change us.  He CAN and WILL do it, but He can't change me unless I let Him...I have to let go of what I think I have control over.

We can satisfy our hunger for happiness with the wrong things, but what we think makes us happy changes and often times can hurt us.  True happiness comes from only one source. Until we realize the only place we can find true happiness is in Christ, our hunger will never be satisfied, and we will never find peace and happiness. What do you hunger for?

 © 2009 Barb Weatherwax

 

Disappointment

Ever wonder when your life will be perfect?  I used to wonder this all the time.  I remember thinking that if I could just do this or have that my life will be perfect and I’ll be happy. We all have thoughts and dreams about what life is about - expectations.  I have always been a dreamer – excited about the possibilities of the future. What happens when our dreams don’t come true or we fall short of the standards and goals we set for ourselves?  Disappointment.  We will never get to a place when we don't have any disappointments…it’s a fact of life.

There are small things that disappoint us daily and then there are the huge, life changing occurrences that (thankfully) usually only happen from time to time.  What causes us to be disappointed?  When I or someone else fails to meet the expectations I have I become disappointed. There have been times in my life that I wanted to just give up – and sometimes I have.   These are times when I get discouraged, which leads to negative emotions and when this happens, the enemy is wringing his hands in anticipation.  He waits to see what happens next:  Will she give in to the discouragement?  Will it weigh her down and make her vulnerable to me?  Can I get inside her head to hasten the decline? I can’t wait to get a hold of her mind! Trust me, this is not a place I wanted to go.  Who wants to fall into a dark pit?  Going down this road creates chaos and devastation.  In hindsight, there are times I wish had made better choices and this regret often leads to guilt, which leads to fear and incredible pain.  However, there have been times in my life that I have taken my thoughts captive and looked to God for wisdom and His Word for encouragement and guidance.  What an amazing difference in the outcome!  Instead of concentrating on my problems and getting discouraged, I’ve found that this focus on God and meditation on His promises keep the enemy from bringing me down.  I realize that I may have fallen, but I don't have to stay down. God is ready, willing and able to pick me up. Hallelujah!  

Don’t let disappointment, fear and regret make you vulnerable to the enemy.  God’s strength and power is ours for the asking.  Christ in us gives us the fortitude to get up and walk away from disappointment and mistakes.  Does it mean we’ll never be disappointed?  No. Will we never experience fear? No.  Will we never fall again?  No.  But He is there to help keep us from falling…or to pull us out of the pit. We only have to believe that he WILL.  

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  ~2 Corinthians 10:5

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax

Currents of Life

The island weather has been perfect this month.  Something happens here twice a year - in June a switch is turned on and the temperatures rise into the 90's and suddenly humidity is 100% all the time - after a morning walk I need to shower again!  Then in September, that switch is turned off, and we can open our windows and breathe again.  I love the afternoon breeze and cool evenings.

I had the pleasure of kayaking with a friend recently...something I haven't done in years.  I spent 2 hours enjoying God's splendor on Broad Creek.  Birds, butterflies, dolphins, sun and soft breezes.  The quiet peace of being on the water is soothing to the soul. 

The wind was light and heading out we were paddling against the current - we had to work a little harder, but it wasn't difficult.  With boats passing by we encountered wakes which caused our small vessels to move with the motion...we just needed to keep paddling and stay balanced. Heading back, the tide was going out and we discovered less effort was necessary because we were moving with the current.  However, when water levels drop we stand a chance of getting caught in the oyster beds.  In some places we had to keep a close eye on the shadows beneath the surface to ensure we didn't run aground.  Once stuck on a bed it can be difficult to free yourself...and you can't get out of the kayak to push off because the shells are razor sharp.  Just thinking about the possibilities of being stuck, getting caught in a huge wake or maybe even being hit by a boat can take one's mind off the beauty that surrounds us.  We could miss all the wonder of nature because we're overwhelmed by negative thoughts.  But wait...we're not alone...we have a guide that is familiar with the waterways and tides.  As long as we follow our guide we can be assured of safety and avoid trouble. Knowing this, we're reassured of our path and once again trust that everything will be all right.

Throughout life we encounter currents that can make it easy for us to stay on course but they also have the potential to take us off course.  If we remain in the Word and stay alert we are prepared for whatever direction life takes us.  When we get caught in an obstacle or the current, we need to focus and not be anxious.  We must remember that God is there, so don’t be afraid...have courage.  If you pay attention to God's leading, you’ll find it’s easier to stay on course.  You’ll experience the protection, peace and joy that only God can provide.  Anxiety is like walking in the heat of summer...heavy and stifling.  We need to let go and allow God to carry our burden.  When our eyes are upward, that weight is lifted from our shoulders.  It's like the cool September evening...refreshing and peaceful.  It’s impossible to experience the peace of God if you allow negative thoughts to fill your mind.  God is waiting to exchange your worries and anxiety for His peace and joy.  Remember, as long as God is your guide, everything’s going to be all right.

 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax

A Perfect Storm

A "perfect storm" is an expression that describes an event when a (rare) combination of circumstances will aggravate a situation drastically.  It's also used to to describe a hypothetical hurricane that hits a region's most vulnerable area, resulting in catastrophic damage by a storm of its magnitude [Wikipedia].

Reading the definition I have images of total devastation and no possible hope for restoration.  Ever felt like a perfect storm has hit your life when you were most vulnerable?  If so, have faith that God not only allows the trial but also a recovery plan...we just need to trust Him.

I have finished reading Chuck Swindoll's Perfect Trust.  And started to read it again...and again...and again.  I highlight things I find meaningful and each time I'm finding something else that's special to me...much of the book is highlighted!  "We count on God's mercy for our past mistakes; we count on God's love for our present needs; but we count on god's sovereignty for the future."  (-Augustine)

So what happens when we surrender to God's sovereignty? What have I learned about trusting God?  

• It pleases God!
• He takes care of barriers when we're hands off - in surprising ways
• If we let our faith take over, we can truly see how good He is
• It's not a test of faith if WE can work it out
• It builds character
• It gives us stability in difficult times
• He is worthy of trust
• He took care of my greatest need at the cross-He will take care of me now

God wants us to be strong in our faith, which leads to perfect trust.  He wants us to stop running and trying to do it all on our own.  He wants us to persevere...a word not popular in society today.  If we persevere in faith we can know just how good God is.  He allows circumstances in our lives and allows us to trust Him.  We choose which direction we turn.  When we walk the road on our own we get confused and stumble.  He is right there along side us waiting - He is prepared for us to lift our burdens to Him so He can fight on our behalf.  God is the only person equipped to go head to head with satan.  Why would we try to do it ourselves?  Craziness.

We all have something we've asked of God...something we're trusting Him to do.  We may wait longer than we thought or want to, but He is still working.  Waiting forces us to trust Him.  We can rest assured that His promises are good and in the waiting He is building something in us.  When we embrace His sovereignty His grace replaces worry, insecurities, hurt, fear, anger and stress with peace that He is in control. 

Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

© 2009 Barb Weatherwax