This Is The Place

Five Minute Friday is where gather with my sweet friends

to write our hearts on a page for 5 minutes prompted
by the friend who encourages us to write bravely - Lisa-Jo.

I love this community more than words can express. 
They are my people.

Today we write about VIEW.

This is the view from my Abba place. 
The place He calls me to when the sun bursts through the trees, 
the light breeze wafts warm, and the birds sing beautiful songs.
This is the place where He speaks words of love and grace to my heart.
This is the place where I reveal myself to Him holding nothing back.
This is the place where I give thanks for all He's given 
and I boldly ask for more of Him in everything.
This is the place where I not only offer my life to Him, 
but also the lives of my warrior and sons.
This is the place where I bare myself to Him heart and soul 
taking off all that hinders this closeness to Him.
He sees me here.
And I see Him.
In the flowers blooming with bright colors, 
in the birds soaring high above the trees, 
in the squirrels fearlessly jumping from limb to limb.
In my warrior working with his hands planting, watering, and growing 
both the garden of flowers and the garden of our sons. 
All of it pointing to Him.
Sometimes I am overwhelmed with all He does in this place.
This place where I lift my hands and bend my knees. 
This place that is His. 
His and mine.

Do you have a special place where you meet Him?

Blessings,

The Gift To Be Unwrapped

Joy is not the "everything is sunshine and roses" kind of happy,

 but the deep satisfaction that comes from knowing 

you're doing what you're called to do.

- Holley Gerth

Walking in a God-sized dream isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it is hard, challenging, and scary. In this dream journey God is stretching me more than ever before. There have been moments where I have doubted. There have even been a few moments when I wanted to give up. Thinking that there is no way that I can do this. But the reality is that I am already doing it. 

You see, the dream is all around me. And no matter how hard it gets or how discouraged I might be, He has placed me right smack dab in the middle of my dream. And it is only by Him that I can see it. It is only through Him that I can do it. 

And there is that moment in the midst of it that I actually feel joy. 

The unexpected realization that I am exactly where I am called to be.

Called to be His. All His.

Called to be wife, momma, daughter, friend.

Called to gather mommas and speak words of encouragement into their lives. 

Called to gather sweet little girls and share Jesus with them.

Called to love with abandon all of these in every way possible.

That's the gift to be unwrapped. 

That's the gift given and received and given away again.

And I give thanks for it all. 

Over and over.

My friend Holley Gerth invited me to join a group of dreamers that she affectionately calls her God Sized Dream Team. What a blessing to be part of this group. 

We will be gathering each week on Tuesdays at Holley's to encourage each other to dream those God sized dreams.

Won't you join us?
What is your God-sized dream?

Holley had written a love letter to dreamers. Her book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream is full of words of encouragement and will speak to your heart.

Blessings,

Around the Tables Again

Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.

This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.

I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the word AGAIN here.




We are gathered around the tables again. 
This group of women. This group of mommas.
My friends. My sisters.
We bow our heads in prayer together.
Inviting Him into this space we share. 
We open our Bibles and read aloud the Word.
Seeking Him.
Wanting to know more of Him.
Together.
We talk of things that are usually held inside.
And know that we aren't alone.
We are sharing the deepest parts of our hearts.
And know that we are loved.
Around the tables again.
We end our time together bowing once again in prayer.
For each other. For our families.
Bringing to Him all things.
We hesitate to leave this place.
A sacred place.
On the way home, I weep.
Thanking Him for the gift of you all.
Thanking Him.
For our time around the tables again.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
I always pray for you, and I make my requests
with a heart full of joy.
Philippians 1:3-4 

Blessings,

Let Me Count The Ways

D and I have been married for 20 years. I am so very thankful for the gift of him. He is my warrior and my best friend. He is an incredible husband and father and leads our family with love, courage, wisdom, and integrity.

There are many reasons that I love him so. 
Here are just a few I am counting today.

He hugs.

He encourages.

He teaches.

He plays.

He laughs.

He loves.

I love walking through our blessed life together

and that he still holds my hand through it all.

"...and the two of them become one."

Genesis 2:24

What are some of the reasons you love your husband?

Everything in Me

Thank you! 
Everything in me says “Thank you!” 

Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 

I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” 

Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; 

Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. 

The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength.

Psalm 138:1-3

Blessings,

A Look Back at 2012

Looking back at what I've written in the past year 
and am feeling so incredibly blessed.

Not by what I've written, but by you all sharing
your hearts in response to my heart on the page.

I am so thankful for each one of you who 
have read, responded to, and shared my words.

You all are a treasured gift.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:3

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite posts from the past year with you.

Seriously Still  

In January, I shared about God calling me to be still with Him. 

Surrender

In February, I shared about exchanging my weakness for His strength.

Love Begins at Home

In March, I shared about what Family Ministry looks like in our own homes.

Hold My Hand Mommy!

In April, I shared about moments with my boys that taught me more about God.

Me, Mr. Clean, & God

In May, I shared about a time that I have my deepest conversations with God.

Making the Most of Drive Time

In June, I shared about making the most of every moment we have with our children.

8 Truths About God Every Child Should Learn

In July, I shared truths from The Lord's Prayer to teach our children.

Enough for Today

In August, I shared about standing on the promise of provision from God.

Dear Me...A Letter to My Teenage Self

In September, I joined other bloggers in writing a letter to myself as a teenager. 
This was by far the most challenging post I wrote all year and is still the hardest for me to read. It is the post that had both positive and negative responses, but through it all I knew it had to be shared.

If it touched one person's life, then it was all worth it.

You Are Welcome Here

In October, I shared about our longing to be welcomed and the power of those words.

I Did It Scared

In October, I also shared about one of my biggest fears and how God is bigger.

We Promised Forever

In November, I shared about celebrating 20 years married to my warrior.

The Answer to a 7 Year Prayer

In November, I also shared about the power of my Abba answering a prayer.

Missions Monday - The Exodus Road

In December, I shared about God breaking my heart and joining The Exodus Road team.

For the Hidden Heroes

In December, I also shared a letter of encouragement written to the undercover investigators of The Exodus Road and invited you to write one as well.

Again I want to thank you all.

Thank you for joining me here and allowing me 
to share my heart and sharing yours right back. 
I am looking forward to what God has 
in store for us in the coming year together.

Blessings,
Wendy

My Cup Overflows

As I sit this evening reflecting on our Christmas this year, 

I am overwhelmed at how incredibly blessed I am.

This is my 20th Christmas with my warrior.

What a gift he is.

Each day with my sons is a treasure. 

I am so very proud to be their Momma.

For the first time in seven years, we celebrated Christmas with my Mom 

who recently moved here to be closer to us.

To say that the boys are thrilled would be an understatement. It has been so wonderful to see them fall deeper in love with each other.

And I have one of my best friends only five minutes away from me.

But God didn't stop there. 

He also brought my Aunt and Uncle here to visit.

Next to my Mom, my Aunt is one of the most influential women in my life.

Tonight I am so thankful for the gift of family.

The laughter a little louder.

The hugs a little tighter.

The love a little bigger.

Each moment shared is etched on my heart.

A gift beyond measure.

My cup overflows.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. 

Let the whole world know what he has done.

Psalm 105:1

What are you thankful for today?

That One Breath

Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and friends for Five Minute Friday.

This is where we come together writing for 5 minutes without editing or overthinking.

I love this community.

Check out what everyone's is sharing on the words THANK YOU here.




Today was a day where thanksgiving overflowed. 
I woke up with a feeling of contentedness and peace 
that I haven't experienced in awhile. 
I have been going through a season of waiting.
Sometimes waiting well and other times
waiting impatiently for what He has in store for me. 
Last night as I reflected on all that I have to be thankful for, 
I realized that what I was waiting for was already happening. 
Little by little He has been chipping away at things in me.  
Oh how painful the chiseling was at times. 
But through it all He has been preparing me.
He has been asking me to trust Him with it all.
And when I woke up this morning it was if I 
let out the breath that I had been holding for so long. 
Almost like a sigh. 
And I realized that that letting out of breath was actually me letting go. 
Letting go of all those plans I had made.
Letting go of them to grab hold of everything He has for me. 
It feels like it could be some form of a prayer.
Some form of praise. 
That one breath. 
Thanking Him. 
Giving Him all of me. 
And taking in all of Him.
So tonight all I can say to Him is thank you.
Thanking Him for those hard times in the waiting space 
as well as every moment to come.


In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Today I Am Thankful

picture by Ann Voskamp

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am breaking bread with my guys and thanking Him for everything.

I am thankful for my family and friends - each and every one a gift.

I am thankful for our home and the love that fills it.

I am thankful for God's love, grace, and mercy that overwhelms me.

I am thankful for each day, every moment His to give and mine to receive.

Today I am thankful.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.

Psalm 105:1

What are you thankful for today?

May the Lord richly bless
both you and your children.
Psalm 115:14 

Blessings!

We Promised Forever

"...and the two of them become one."

Genesis 2:24

On this day 20 years ago we stood face to face, 

hand in hand, and we promised each other forever.

We stood before our God, family, and friends

to say these words to each other...

"I take you to be mine, 

to have and to hold 

from this day forward, 

for better or for worse, 

for richer, for poorer, 

in sickness and in health, 

to love and to cherish; 

from this day forward 

until death do us part."

And we became one.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.

Song of Solomon 6:3

 D...

I am so very thankful that God gave the gift of you to me. 

I love being married to you. 

You are my warrior, my lover, and my best friend. 

You have shown me what love looks like 

and what it means to be cherished.

You have shown me what partnership is

with these beautiful boys that we are raising together.

You are an incredible husband and father.

You lead our family with love, courage, wisdom, and integrity.

All the while teaching these things to our sons.

I love walking together through this blessed life that we share. 

I love that you still hold my hand through it all.

Today I want you to know that I would marry you all over again. 

That I promise you that every day of my forever is still yours.

Happy Anniversary Babe.

Love you madly.

I Did It Scared

This is the promise that I have been holding on to for the past few weeks as I have been preparing to lead a Bible study for moms at our church.

One of the fears I have been struggling with is speaking in public. I am talking butterflies the size of cows even thinking about it let alone actually doing it. When my mentor asked me to lead, I thought of a million reasons to give her for why I should not do it and then heard a small voice coming from deep inside that said, "yes." 

And I immediately thought to myself, "You have just lost your mind."

So over the past weeks of preparation I looked up every Bible verse that said "do not fear" in every translation. I thought if I could just get rid of the fear...

But the reality for me was that I just had to do it scared. 

I had to turn it over to Him and say that this is beyond me and I needed Him. The fear didn't go away. I stood on Tuesday morning in front of a group of women and taught (flipboard, notecards, markers, and all). My heart was beating a mile a minute the whole time and the last thing I prayed before I began was "I need You Lord. Please..."

When I was done I sat down and let out a huge sigh. 

All I kept saying in my head over and over again was "Thank you Lord."

Here is a little of what I shared...

In order to learn how to be a better mom to our children, we need to learn more about how our Father parents us. What better way to begin than

In the beginning...

God our Father is the Creator of everything. At the very beginning of Genesis we hear how everything came to be. From light to darkness to stars and oceans. At the end of each day, God looked over everything He had made and said it was good. But something changed after He created human beings in His image. God looked over ALL He had made and said it was VERY good.

That ALL is you. You are His creation and you are VERY good in His eyes.

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

Psalm 139:14

There are so many times as moms that we don't really feel so marvelous. Maybe it's a bad hair day. Maybe it's a day that we don't get everything done on our to-do list. Maybe we are short in patience with our kids.

But how we feel isn't the truth.

The truth in His Word says that we are marvelously 

made in His image and we are very good in His eyes.

That truth isn't just for us though.

It is also true about our children.

There are some days that it is a challenge to remember that they too are very good. (You know...one of those days where there is constant bickering.)

But their behavior doesn't define them.

God does.

They too are marvelously made.

When we focus on the positive, the negative is harder to see.

So for the next week I want to challenge you to write down 

5 things that you find marvelous about your children.

Thanksgiving - Give Thanks Free Blogger Event

Thanksgiving Give Thanks Event is hosted by Mom Blog Society.

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The event dates: 10/31 - 11/14

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