A Second Wind

Have you ever experienced a moment when you literally came to the end of your own strength yet somehow persevered beyond that point? I truly believe in life if we think long and hard enough, we can all find a moment such as that to reflect upon.

I would like to say my life has been easy, but in all honesty it has been an uphill climb. There were years where I knew God was real, but I did not lean on Him daily. I did however use Him as an emergency buddy in dire situations.

I find it funny how easily we are fooled into thinking God is not for us when in all reality if we were to look deeply into our lives, we'd see that we were not for or into God.

When I was a child, prior to having my first child, it was brought to my attention that I would be a young mother. As if that were not enough to project to a preteen, it was also mentioned that I would be a mother to many.

Now to be 100% honest, at that point in my life, the last thing I thought I wanted to grow up to be was a mother to one let alone many. When this news was presented to me, I was shocked to say the least. I was still obedient to God at this time so instead of rebelling against the idea, I made a list of what I would and would not do as a mother.

When I approached the age of consent, I was tempted to rebel against such plans for my life. Indeed, I formed a plan to avoid young motherhood. As soon as you begin planning against God, you are completely open to the ploys of the evil one. This is the story of my life.

I ran from God's will in my life for almost 3 decades. All I did, I did in my own strength. Life was a constant roller coaster; that is until the fateful day that I sought out God with all my heart admitting that I could not continue life in the manner that I had been. He audibly spoke to me that day. Since then, life has never been the same.

Don't get me wrong, my life is still not easy persay but in a very real way, it is easier. I still face trials and tribulations, some of them even more severe than ever in my life, but with God at my side, I am invincible. Circumstances no longer take my feet out from under me. Even in the worst of times, I praise the LORD, for I see and feel the difference. It is a very real thing. I KNOW God protects and provides. I no longer fear anything. I am able to rest during the storms trusting in Him. I have come to witness that He never lets me down.

It is for this reason that Isaiah 40:31 speaks complete truth to me. No matter what battle Satan wages against me, I don't become weary. I know the LORD is my strength. I know He will show up and in the end I will prevail. The rest of the nightmare is just that, an illusion of sorts designed to steal my peace, kill my dreams and destroy my life. The beauty is that by turning to God, I have already won the battle.

I have been amazed to witness such false attacks dismantle in a matter of days. I have had to do nothing in my defense other than to stand on the truth and call out to the LORD.

I still cry, I still bang my head against the wall at times. The difference is I don't stay there long. I have come to recognize that there truly is a spiritual war taking place around us. We are either soldiers for Christ, or we are pawns for the enemy.

Some will claim that there are many paths to the Kingdom of God, but the word of God tells us there is only one; Christ Jesus.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)

Many will claim that this stance makes me a radical but I know it makes me aware of the truth. As a child I knew God, I did not know Christ. I believe that children have direct access to God for I know I did. I still believed in Him in my rebellion, but I did not trust or understand God. It was only in my reseeking him in my adult years, that I discovered Christ and in doing so, I became a friend to God. Jesus was the key to opening that door. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Read my story! It might just change your life in ways you only dreamed about!

Father, today I come before you praising your name. I love you. You have always been faithful even when I have been rebellious. Your love amazes me. As a parent I wish I had a millionth of your patience! All I long to do is to shine your light into the dark crevices of the world. I pray that eyes are opened. I pray that many begin to see the truth, that countless begin to seek and find. I pray that you use me in major ways in this battle. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Wendy, mom of many, girl who walks with God.

© Wendy Glidden 2016 

The Greatest Gift of ALL!

This year for Christmas, my grandma gave me money and told me I needed to spend it on only me and asked that I buy something that I truly wanted. Sadly, what I truly want for Christmas and each day for that matter is not for sale!

In the Bible, we read of a man who wanted the power of the Holy Spirit for himself and he was so ecstatic over what he had witnessed, that he offered money to the disciples of Jesus Christ to purchase it! Of course, he learned very quickly that the gift of the Holy Spirit is not for sale!

What I long for is indeed the gift of freedom to be discovered for every individual that walks the face of the earth. It is so crazy to understand that it is available for free to anyone who seeks it, but in the same fell swoop it seems to be the most illusive gift of all in the world.

Is Satan truly so clever that he has managed to move his pawns into place blinding the majority of the world to the truth of God? He is shrewd indeed for even Jesus tells us this! He obviously is out to destroy mankind's relationship with God for that is self evident within the third chapter of Genesis. With one read through Job, there again, we should be left with no doubt that it is his desire to get us to curse God and denounce Him.

God tells us several things about Satan, but the clearest description of his desire can be found in the Gospel of John:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10, NASB)

Here we see a double guarantee: 

1. The thief (Satan and all his minions) came to steal, kill and destroy.

2. Jesus came so that we may not only have life, but that we may live life abundantly.

Now abundance does not mean monetary wealth. It means that we have access to the blessings of the Spirit while living our current lives. I have been accused by a nonbeliever that I am focused on my life to come. That is so far from the truth. I don't focus on that, I know what is to come. What I do focus on is the truth and that truth is this: I once was a slave to Satan. Held captive by my sins. Convinced that I was unworthy of God's forgiveness and love. I was right where the enemy wanted me; bound.

You see, I have come to learn that every person in the world does not meet God in their youth, but I did. I walked, talked, dreamt, and laughed with Him. I had big plans in regards to helping His people come to discover Him and His way of life. I had already witnessed such sorrow in the world and in the same fell swoop, I had come to discover abundant bliss in the midst of hanging out with God. I wanted that for everyone in the world. I still want it for everyone in the world. 

However, just as Satan connived Eve into seeking her own path in life, Satan did the same to me. My guilt over things I did in the pursuit of happiness while knowing full well they were against God's wishes only bound me in greater ways. I went from a girl who loved to hang out with God to a girl who believed He was no longer her friend. In truth, I was not being a friend to God. 

All that changed in a moment during a life event that literally dropped me to my knees. The amazing thing about truly seeking out God's will in your life is He introduces you to His son; Christ Jesus. The amazing thing about Christ is He teaches you all about God! Getting to know God in deeper ways will lead you to living an abundant life, despite all that the evil one throws your way. 

Today, my prayer for you is that you discover Christ Jesus. I pray you discover how to live abundantly in this fallen world. 

Should you be curious to learn about my walk with God, I encourage you to check out "You Are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding!"

As you begin to read my story, may you come to recognize the spiritual warfare that is taking place all around you. I pray as you learn, you begin to discover your armor and become a mighty warrior for the Kingdom of God! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy Glidden, mom of many, girl who walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2016

Do You Believe?

Do you believe in God? If so, do you also believe in the Holy Spirit? What about Jesus Christ, the only begotten so of God?

For years I had my doubts about just who Jesus Christ was, but I knew God was real. I knew because of the relationship I built with Him as a child. It was as real as any other relationship I had.

It's kind of weird, my walk with God. How I was manipulated so easily by the evil one . . . it is what God points out in "You Are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding".

We read in the word of God that faith is major. Book after Book, verse after verse, we are shown how major faith is. When I think about my life and all the things that I was directed to share, I am always captivated by how much my faith has been increased through my life. God tells us this in regards to faith:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Romans 1:17, NASB)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, NASB)

When you couple that with this truth:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7, NASB)

One has to become curious as to what all this means. How many people do we personally know that will tell you they believe in Christ, the message of grace and seem to absolutely love the word of God?

When I read these verses, I am reminded that God is true to His promises. You see, I found my way to faith with baby steps. Literally from faith to faith. As my faith grew, the more amazing things began to take place in my ordinary every day life. As my faith grew, I sought to learn and I heard and I read and I began to study and seek. 

You Are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding covers so many crazy true events that took place. Not only that, through this true life story, one begins to see just how the enemy works and you begin to understand what spiritual warfare is and how it works.

Today, I encourage you to go check out a snippet for free via Amazon Kindle. For only $3.99, you can download the entire book. You just might find yourself well on your way to a more abundant life!

Father, I just want to thank you for all the times you have increased my faith. With childlike enthusiasm I anticipate your next blessing. I am always looking for You around every corner. You simply amaze me with all you do. I am in such awe of your love, your mercy, your grace.I feel life in me once again and I just cannot fathom what you are up to but I love it. Thank you for giving me such an incredible life to live. If I could have just one prayer answered it would be one involving the harvest. I pray that through what you called me forth to share that many are turned to You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Wendy, Mom of many, walks with God.

© Wendy Glidden 2016

The Best Gift I Have to Offer

This verse resonates with my soul. I feel this too is my calling. I love the LORD God with all my heart. I absolutely cannot believe that He chose to love someone like me. I have been so wrong in my day. Yet despite all that, here I am, home with the LORD. 

Now don't get me wrong. I am not home in the sense of being 100% home, but I have been welcomed back home. Today I am here in the trenches fighting to wake up other fallen soldiers; sisters and brothers in Christ. This world is brutal. We start out with dreams and sadly in the end many fall prey to the tricks of the evil one. We get caught up in this world in one way or another and we are robbed of our abundant life.

Now today, I imagine many in the world would think I am crazy to say that I love my life. That it is abundant because in reality from the world's point of view, my life is not a dream life. However, for me, everyday I wake up knowing who I am in Christ. I know that God is the real deal and I am overwhelmed with the truth that He loves me. He has provided for me in miraculous ways and all and all, my life is amazing. I don't stress, I don't fret, I am truly able to rest in Him and that is a luxury that most in this world don't possess. Now to me, that void would be something to cry about. 

I truly believe, we are more likely to listen to what a person has to say on a subject if we know more about how they came to be where they are. Today, I invite you to dive into my past and see for yourself why I am so confident in my belief of Christ Jesus. I am just an ordinary girl, with a not so great history, however after you read my story, I believe you too may come out on the side of possessing the ability to live an abundant life!

Give yourself the best Christmas Gift ever this year: click here to purchase it!

May you find yourself immensely blessed by each purchase, for if the book changes your life for the better, won't it make a great gift for others as well?

Father, I come before you today so thankful that I KNOW You. Even more thankful that You KNOW me! I am amazed by you. I stand in awe of your ways. I love you. All I want for Christmas this year is for others to discover You as I KNOW You! I am so humbled that You called me forth to share my life story. I pray that it does all we talked about in my dreams. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, Mom of Many, walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2016

When I Fall Flat on My Face...

This morning I awoke from a crazy cool dream and truly wish I had a way to record the song that I blasted out in my defense. To say that I have been through a spiritual battle from hell this week would be the understatement of the year. So, when I awoke this morning, I reached for my phone knowing full well I needed to begin dressing spiritually for my day. As I read the words, tears welled in my eyes:

Why are you in despair, O my soul?

And why have you become disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11, NASB)

I know from my own dream that my hope is in God and the truth is the harder life gets the more I lean on Him, the more I call out. It is true that in my weakness, I find His strength. This is something that He actually assures us in His word:

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NASB)

Much of my battle stems from being unequally yoked. Those that have read my story know that I did not start out unequally yoked, but over the course of the last several years, I have grown from knowing of God to knowing God and the difference in those two is monumental.

I am thankful that my eyes have been opened and that I see the world for what it is. I do often wonder though how he can remain so blind to it all; so blind that he constantly finds it necessary to mock, belittle and criticize my faith. The worst for me is when he crosses the line into blasphemy. I think right now in this exact time of my walk with God, I am more prone to tears and a broken heart due to the changes occurring in my body due to being pregnant. I look in the mirror and can not believe that I am going to have another baby at the age of 47! Those of you who read my book know that I was told at a very young age that I would be a mother to many. You also know that I delivered my first baby at the age of 17. That means that I have been carrying and birthing children for 3 decades now! What a crazy thought.

My partner has stated that I am making myself a target for my belief in Christ. That throughout history people like me have been killed for their faith. I think this is meant to scare me. That somehow the thought of losing my head will keep me from professing my faith and sharing my love of Christ with others. You would think by now he would have come to understand that I truly cannot help myself. It is true what the word of God proclaims:

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:45, NASB)

When you come to realize so many truths by having your eyes opened to them, it is impossible to ignore them. The spirit of discernment is not blind to the urges and lures of the world. I watch so much in the world that breaks my heart. I understand why the Bible also warns that those who gain knowledge bestowed upon by God will be full of sorrow. It's a crazy thing to fall in love with God our Father. You come to be so thankful for the message of mercy and grace; to know that you too are so undeserving for we all fall short that when others continue to chose to walk in darkness basking in their selfish ways, your heart breaks for them. Instead of being filled with anger as the evil one loves for all to become, you are filled with heartache which causes you to pray for your fallen brothers, sisters and friends. 

Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. (Ecclesiastes 1:18, NASB)

I would not change this heartache for others for anything in the world for what I would have to give up is much too great; my relationship with the LORD. He sustains me through all. As I was writing this all out this morning, this song by Kutless came on. If you cannot view it from here, perhaps you will be able to access it by using this direct link: Everything I Need by Kutless on YouTube

Father, today I come to you in tears, both of great sadness and great joy. I am so thankful for my relationship with You. I am so thankful that we are so close that even in my sleep I sing out to you in thanks and praise; how You sustain me through all my storms. Today I find myself rolling through so many emotions. I am broken-hearted and joyous all in the same fell swoop. It is a crazy roller coaster to ride. I thank you for Your love, Your mercy, Your grace, Your patience and so much more. I ask that you strengthen me and all your devoted children during these dark days. I pray that you enable our minds to speak as you would to those who are lost. Please allow us to be the best examples of You that we can be so that others will find their way home and LORD if there is any way to sway my partner into curiosity towards you, I ask for this. I ask it for all non believers; may a believer full of Your light cross their path and enable you to touch their lives in a forever way. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

For those needing a good true life story to curl up with tonight, I encourage you to purchase a copy of You Are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding (Paperback/print version) or in ebook fashion click here: Only $3.99 for the digital version!

Wendy, mom of many, girl who walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2016