Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
John Ortberg: If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat
Beth Moore: Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life
David Staal: Leading Your Child to Jesus: How Parents Can Talk with Their Kids about Faith
We all love....each of us does so differently. Where does this love come from? God breathes it into us and we are duty bound to breathe it into others. I am grateful for the love in my heart that I have for my children, my family, my friends, my man. I feel loved. I am learning to accept that I am lovable...that in my imperfect state of being it is possible that people can see past the imperfect me and see the real me. I am learning that I have value and I don't have to be perfect, but I fill a need perfectly for some people. This revelation is a gift. My past doesn’t define who I am, but it has helped create who I am. The life I have lived, although strewn with mistakes, has brought me to a very sweet place. I am learning that I am strong. That I choose to be who I am and I have the power within me to be whatever I aspire to be. Somewhere on my journey I lost myself - not exactly sure when or how it happened but allowed it. I didn’t respect myself enough to fight for my identity, my self worth. God's amazing love brought me back...
Six years ago I spent my last weeks with my mother, who believed in me. She saw not only the perfection that a only mother sees, but the she saw my weaknesses...she saw the real me. She saw potential and knew that loving me the way I needed to be loved would be the way to bring this potential to life. She breathed God's love into me until she took her last breath. She taught me to stand strong. She taught me to be myself. She taught me to forgive. She taught me to get up and keep trying. She taught me to laugh. She taught me to be honest and true....to be real. She taught me to be a friend. She taught me to dream. She taught me to love.
Be proud of the woman you raised momma....I am my mother’s daughter. It is my hope that my son and daughters share my pride in saying that. You have left a wonderful legacy of love for us...we are forever grateful.
In Loving Memory of an Incredible Woman
Linda C. Swan
11/28/36 - 11/4/05
© 2011 Barb Weatherwax
Peace. What does it mean to you? How do we get it?
I believe that God wants us to pursue it. Sometimes we wish for things to change but are unaware of the need to change or unwilling to do what it takes to make things better. Do you wish that certain things in your life could change? That everything would be better if they did? Until I looked at my life to see what I could do to bring about change, I was really just wishing, which we know does nothing.
So where does this change begin? It comes from within. The Son lives within us when we accept his sacrifice...the kingdom of God is within us. What?? How can I be this imperfect being if Christ is in me? That is a question that I struggle with daily. Our inner peace is important to our Father. Peace within us is reflected on the outside through grace and kindness. He wants our peace to be authentic...our inner self is the same as what others see. Our identity is in Christ and knowing this is critical to finding peace....to forgiving ourselves and acceptance of who we are...imperfect yet perfect in Him.
For those of you who know me, I appear to be strong, independent, confident. For those of you who really know me, I am only strong in Him, dependent on Him and confident He loves me. For those of you who are closest to me, you know I seek approval, acceptance, security and have a giving heart. You know I would do anything for anyone. I want to please others and make others feel loved, which is a direct result of the grace my God has bestowed on me. And for those of you who know me, I often fall short, which truly breaks my heart. When I learn or realize that I am not full of grace and mercy it literally brings me to my knees. Tears flow....alligator tears...I don’t eat...and I don't sleep. I know this grieves my Lord as well.
I want to love people the way Jesus loves me. I have not always done this well, which hurts everyone involved. I need to be still before God more often...enough to recognize my struggle and to work daily to be more like Jesus. I know that the closer I get to his perfection the more vulnerable I am...willing to make right a wrong and to put that desire for change into action. I need to learn that if I know who I am in Christ, it’s ok to be imperfect. He knows already that I am, as does everyone around me.
So, today I find myself feeling sad because of this and am asking myself: Do I know who I am in Christ? Am I walking in righteousness? Am I diligently seeking Him? Do you? Are you? My hope that your answer is yes!
"Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven." ~Psalm 85:9-11
© 2011 Barb Weatherwax
Several years ago I was invited to be a part of something incredible that God was doing through LowCountry Community Church. I didn't quite know what was to come and I was not really feeling capable or able physically to take on the challenge, but I did it anyway. I felt pressure from some not to, but I felt even more pressure from the Holy Spirit to obey God's calling and this is the path I took. He certainly could have found someone more qualified and better equipped. There were many times I struggled physically and spiritually to continue. Many times I wanted to quit, but He always lifted me up and brought others along side to teach, encourage and support me. These same sisters and brothers helped carry me through a life changing event. I believe in His calling to serve at LowCountry He provided me with what I would need physically and emotionally to come out on the other side of a difficult time, stronger yet more reliant on Him.
God is steadfast and true. Sovereign. Omnipotent. Gracious. Loving. He wants to bless us with joy and prosperity. Sometimes this comes through hardship and trauma and not the way we expect it.
This blog began when Todd and Cynthia told me I would be doing it as a part of my role with the Hilton Head campus. I balked. I hesitated. I said, please, no. I can't. What would I write. Who would read what I write. They did not relent. So here we are years later and although postings have been scant this past year, I cannot imagine not writing. I have missed it and longed for the time to do so. I love listening to what the Lord is teaching me and sharing it with anyone who wants to take time to read what I write. Thank you Cynthia and Todd for sharing your family, your passion and yourselves in the wonderful journey of bringing the Gospel to our community. Thank you LowCountry Community Church family for blessing me beyond words. There are so many of you that I could not possibly name each of you here. Thank you for believing in me.
I am transitioning my blog to another host site, which I am currently constructing. It is my hope that I can post a time or two here before I complete the change. I would be honored if you continue to follow me to my new blog home. I also encourage you to embrace change. Take a step of faith, especially when it seems crazy or when you doubt yourself. Ask God for guidance and strength. Trust Him. I know, from my personal experience that He will enable you. The bumble bee is not designed to fly, yet the Father has created it and has given it the means to do so. He will take you where you need to be and will help you transition into the next phase of your journey.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." ~ Proverbs 3:5,6
© 2011 Barb Weatherwax
In preparation for the snowy winter that I've been told to expect, I bought snow tires. In trying to make room in my trunk to bring the radials home once these wonderful winter tires were installed, I came across 2 large bags of socks in my trunk. A friend decided to donate them to the local thrift store and I had planned to make the drop for him. Well, I carried these socks in my trunk for weeks, because for some reason, I felt that I couldn't didn't just donate them. I had this burning need to give them to someone. But who? Who wants a bag of used socks?
On my way home from work one evening I began to think about how I could give these socks to someone who could actually use them. It was about 8:30 at night and I said to myself, "You need to find homeless people." Then I laughed to myself and thought about how silly that seemed. Where am I going to find homeless people in the suburbs of a major city, where I barely know my way around? And how would I find the time? So I asked God to give me a homeless man. Ahh, you laugh. I know I did. So as I approached the store where I was going to look for a sweater, you're not going to believe what happened next. In front of me, in the dead of winter in the suburbs of Chicago, was a man on a bike pulling a tiny bike-size trailer....
"You've got to be kidding me." I drove past him into the TJ Maxx parking lot fully prepared to go shopping, because I can't stop (it might not be safe), but I'm sure I heard someone say, "turn around." So I did. I went through another parking lot hoping I hadn't lost him then I saw him riding towards me. I stopped, rolled down my window, and asked if I could ask him a personal question and he said yes. "This may seem very strange to you, but are you homeless?" Yes. Tears welled up in my eyes. "I have some socks that I had planned on dropping at the local thrift shop. Would you be interested in them?" He shook his head and I pulled into a parking place. I explained that they were not new socks and some were missing their mates...and that there were a lot of them. "I have friends who could use socks." I gave him the 2 bags and handed him $10 and asked him to spend it on something useful. I then told him how we came to cross paths....by God's divine hand...because I listened to the soft whisper of His voice.
As we parted I told him that God loved him and that I would pray for him. His expression caused those tears welling in my eyes to fall as he said, "I hope God blesses you ma'am."
Have you ever asked God for some seemingly silly thing, kind of thinking it's so strange or insignificant it could never happen? I do it often, but this time He showed up in a very unique way. I wanted to be a blessing to someone and He already knew there was this man out there that would cross my path, if I would only ask. This man blessed me in ways I can't describe. My God, ever faithful and true, whispered to me. Turn around. We often ask and then are not still enough to hear his response and we miss out on blessings. As we come out of celebrating the birth of our Savior and enter into a new year, I challenge you to be still before the Almighty and to genuinely seek Him. And wait and listen for that soft, gentle whisper of His voice. It's powerful. You will never be the same, I promise.
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”Job 26:14
© 2010 Barb Weatherwax
I love a good thunderstorm…heavy rain, thunder I can feel, and bright, glorious lightning. The other day as I was driving to work it started to rain. The sky above and behind me was dark so I thought I might get to enjoy such a storm, but when I looked in front of me it was blue with big white clouds. As I looked ahead to the heavens I saw the most amazing rainbow that literally arched across the entire road, high above the trees. It was huge!! It reminded me of God’s promise to Noah after the flood and I smiled as I thought how good He is and of the many promises in His word and how these promises are made to me, personally. As a quilter, I also thought about the process of making a quilt. The many pieces, the care and planning, the love and effort that goes into the finished product…and how God pours Himself into me with same great care and intentionality... so that I can perhaps become a beautiful creation in Him…one who loves Him and whose desire is to honor and glorify a loving God. From a distance we see the splendor of colors, but a closer look reveals details we would not notice with a casual glance. In a quilt, each piece is designed to fit with another for the finished design. I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion and incredible gratitude for God's promises to me. These are some of the wonderful promises that came to mind:
He is a compassionate, loving and gracious God. He demonstrated His love for me in the sacrifice of His one and only Son, long before I was born. He is beside me in everything I do, and all I have to do is call on Him. He wants me to delight myself in Him. He wants to give me the desires of my heart…to bless me, one who loves Him and whose desire is to honor and glorify Him with my life and service. He has great plans for me…“plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
When I seek His will, He goes before me and prepares the way. He wants me to trust in Him with all my heart and not to lean on my own understanding; in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight. He will counsel and teach me in the way I should go, and watch over me. I have no reason to be afraid or discouraged because He is always with me. His unfailing love for me will not be shaken.
When I lift all my cares and worries up to Him, He sustains me. He will never let the righteous fall. He will watch over me. He is my Comforter when I am brokenhearted and my Deliverer when I am troubled. His word tells me not to fear because He is with me. He is my God and will strengthen and help me. He will uphold me with His righteousness. When I am weary or burdened and seek Him, He promises to give me rest.
Romans 8:38-39 says that “…nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” His love for me endures forever!
As I reflect on how awesome my God is, I realize that this is only a glimpse of His promises and who He is. I don’t fully understand or know of the extent of His faithfulness and goodness. But I do know this: He loves me. He is my hope, my future and my strength. Psalm 37:28 reminds me that He will never forsake His saints. We are preserved forever.
“We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so that his life can also be seen in us.” – 2 Corinthians 7-11
© 2010 Barb Weatherwax
Three years ago I walked through a door that God opened for me, and today I ventured through another open door...I started my new position today in Promiseland at the Bluffton campus of LCC. This past Sunday was my last as Children’s Director on the Hilton Head campus, where I have had the privilege of serving for 3 years. Todd asked me to the stage to express his appreciation and you all know how much I love the stage. As I looked out at the faces of my church family, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and respect for the men and women who faithfully served alongside me in Promiseland and for those of you who have prayed over this ministry. I wanted to express what I am writing here today but I knew I would never make it through to adequately express what is on my heart. I am grateful for the commitment and love of those who have served with a desire to make a difference in the lives of these precious souls. There have been many times you have been asked to serve above and beyond and have done so with a glad heart and a smile. My job has been much easier because of the spirit of teamwork amongst our volunteers and staff. I thank each of you with sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the difference you have made at our campus and for me personally. I am so very fortunate to have served with you.
Awhile back I reposted my blog from October 23, 2008, and I ask your indulgence in allowing me to repost it again. Know that your service has made a difference in the lives of our children and I hope that one day in eternity you will be able to see the fruit of your labor…
“I've been thinking a lot 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?”
As wonderful as you all are, my deepest gratitude goes out to God for the gifts and abilities He has blessed me with and the way He works in my life. I am humbled that my Almighty King sees in me value enough to invest in my soul. He has brought me through many hardships, from childhood through today, which have made me who I am...imperfect yet perfect in Him, a woman with a heartfelt desire to bring honor and glory to Him. I don’t have adequate words to express how thankful I am. I cannot think about it without tearing up. He has used me in spite of myself. I often fail Him, but He never fails me. He continues to bless me and allows me to keep trying. It brings me to my knees.
Thank you, my Father, for who you are and the way you love us. Thank you for these wonderful people that have blessed me beyond measure… for allowing our lives to connect for the salvation of children and for the privilege of bringing you honor and glory. May your richest blessings rain down on them all of their days. May they know they are loved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." - Philippians 1:3
© 2010 Barb Weatherwax
"Sometimes it's hard for me, too, to keep walking. Life's path is filled with pebbles, stones that either trip me up or find their way into my shoe. The hills are steep. And way too much of the trek has to be done in the dark. The urge to stop, to sit, hunker down, or scoot is strong, but something else is stronger; the pull of God's loving arms reaching for me, the confident voice that says, 'This is the way. Walk in it. So I dust myself off, and balancing briefly to get my footing, I step out in faith. Someone Who loves me is waiting with open arms for my safe arrival. All I have to do is keep walking. Thank You Father, for setting me on my feet…again and again and again."
I don’t know who wrote this, but today a friend sent it to me and another friend spoke to me about a stone in my path and urged me to continue to keep my focus on Him. I have felt a strong sense of spiritual warfare around me this past week. Not just a struggling, but I literally felt the physical presence of satan sitting on my chest. He stole my peace. Later in the week I learned of struggles a close friend was experiencing...I felt sure this was the cause of my heavy heart…I felt an ache that defied explanation. I was confused.
© 2010 Barb Weatherwax
A young man came up to me at youth group came up to me 2 weeks ago and asked me if I was "Ms. Barb"...and I said yes. He asked, "Do you remember me?". Of course I remembered him. Jack. He had changed a lot over the years, but I could see the boy in the eyes of this tall 17 year old. He was one of "my" kids in the weekday ministries program that I worked with many years ago. He was a bright, mischievous, handful of a boy. I remembered him. I prayed for all the children that God blessed me with during my years at that church...but Jack was one that held a special place in my heart. I knew he was on a path that would lead him to heartache and struggle...so I prayed a little harder for him. I heard his name from time to time, but lost track of him over the years. When I left that job I personally bought Bibles for all my kids...I needed to leave them with something that was a reminder of the impact they had on my heart and how much I loved each of them. Jack shared that he had indeed taken a path that took him down a road of poor choices and has since turned his life over to the Jesus that we talked about in my after school program, and has come to know through Teen Challenge. Jack said he never read that bible - never had an interest - until his mother brought it to him. He told me about the inscription and the bible verse below it. I don't recall the exact words I wrote in 2004, but I remembered the verse. Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." I told him I meant what I wrote...it truly came from my heart.
Jack gave his testimony that night...I was blessed beyond words. Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened. My heart was filled with sadness for his journey, but also with joy for his salvation.
I have walked my own way and have a journey that is far from perfect. God saw fit to bridge the gap between us with a Savior...and I try to live my life so it is pleasing to Him. I often fail, but I never give up.
I read this poem by Helen Lowrie Marshall many years ago and the words struck a chord with my soul.
YOU NEVER KNOW
You never know when someone
May catch a dream from you.
You never know when a little word
Or something you may do
May open up the windows
Of a mind that seeks the light –
The way you live may not matter at all,
But you never know – it might.
That another’s life, through you,
Might possibly change for the better
With a broader and brighter view,
It seems it might be worth a try
At pointing the way to the right –
Of course, it may not matter at all,
But then again – it might.
I was out with my friend Kelly awhile ago and we enjoyed listening to live entertainment. How Far is Heaven, by the Los Lonely Boys was one of the songs and we heard something in the words “how far is heaven” that prompted us both to make a mental bookmark of them. The song talks about our weariness in living life and asking to be lifted or removed from the circumstances we are in. I know I don’t like it when I’m in the middle of something difficult or in a place where I need patience, and wonder if and when I will be delivered from it. Been there?
As believers we think and talk about heaven and we spend much of our time (or at least we should) telling others who Jesus is so they too, can set their sites on heaven. I wonder if in looking at “heaven” we can lose sight of those who are important in the here and now. We need to keep our feet on the ground, as long as we live on this ground, keeping our eyes lifted to the heavens.
In helping and loving those around us we bring a slice of heaven into their lives…and ours. I love doing things for people – both those I know and those I don’t. I love my family….when Caitlin comes home and she brings her friends, I love spoiling them with home cooked meals and treats. I love the stories and the laughter. I love my friends and the way I am blessed by their friendship…and that I sometimes can bless them in return. This is my heaven…right here on earth.
So how far is heaven? It’s as close as you choose it to be. We are all on this road in life that leads through joyful experiences, times of growth and trials. Each life experience has its own heaven…you just need to look for it.
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:12
© 2010 Barb Weatherwax
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