Rest . . .

Being labor day weekend, I am blessed with being granted the entire week with no assignments done. My professor wrote the entire class and instructed us to enjoy our time off. He even went as far as to remind us that being still is an important part of our relationship with the LORD.

Those who know me, know I am super tempted to get a step ahead in my studies. This is due to having an incredibly fast paced life every day! My motto is and has been "Do what you can when you can". It is the only way in which I have been able to get 'ahead of the game' for a long long time.

As I read the class letter though, I reflected on the truth found in Scripture in regards to the importance of 'being still'. While my first go to verse as I began seeking God came from Proverbs:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5, NASB)

My second go to verse came from my all time favorite Psalm:

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)

Cease striving / Be still ~ I have read it both ways. For so long I strived and yet seemed to always end up back at ground zero. Many of us are familiar with they lyrics, "One step forward and two steps back" (Desert Rose Band). This was how I felt life was for decades. In a way, I don't resent my past life, for I came to witness that material possessions come and go and in that wisdom, I never put much attention into them, meaning they never became my stronghold.

When it came to my things or my vehicles, I was never one to freak out should something get dinged or damaged. I had seen too many things come and go to get all emotional over material items. I do consider that a gigantic blessing in the end.

So today I don't strive to gain material possessions, but I do sometimes get caught up in the business of life and I forget to simply sit still and bask in the glory of God. When I was in my 20's I didn't seek out God, I viewed him as my foe in all honesty. Back then, I simply desired to live life on my own terms. The funny thing is I don't think I even knew what 'my terms' were back then. Basically I was looking to live life as I saw fit and not under the direction of anyone and certainly not a God who I saw as 'out to get me'.

There is something about seeking God. The closer you draw to Him, the more you desire to His will in your life. In Scripture, we discover that man prefers to live in darkness for there he can live as he desires.

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19, NASB)

I know today I have been all over the place in regards to my thoughts, but this is the way my mind often works. For decades, I preferred to ignore God's will in my life. Those of you who have read my story that He called me forth to share, know this truth about me. I have always been a stubborn person and in my own stubbornness, I have bitten off my own nose to spite my face. While I was surviving, I was certainly not thriving. Today I live under the promises of God and I have witnessed them blossom again and again. Today I do live an abundant life, which is what Jesus assures me He came to deliver:

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

This is where rest comes in. When you learn to have faith and put your trust in the LORD, no matter what you are facing; when you make your stronghold Him and believe that He can move mountains in your favor and are able to say, "It is well" when He doesn't move the mountains, you will learn how to be still, to rest, knowing and trusting that He is God. 

With all that being said, today while my children are also out of school, I am relaxing and hanging out with them. We've watched Mandissa, Mercy Me and Chris Tomlin music videos and for a lot of laughs a few from Tim Hawkins as well. That is about as still as I can be with God considering that I am hanging with not only my youngest 6, I am also hanging out with my oldest and her 6. Tomorrow however, I think I will dive into the Bible and get that part of my required reading done. In this way I will be hanging out with God, basking in His glory and at the same time getting ahead in my studies so that next week is not so overwhelming! 

Be blessed my friends, step into the light ~ the dark has it's moment in everyone's life ~ in your's though, I pray you turn to the Light!

Wendy Glidden

© Wendy Glidden 2017

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly. 

I'm Going 'Home'

Today I find myself waiting for my mail to catch up with me. Two days before my decision to step out in faith, I had realized my bank card was missing so I had ordered a new one only to leave the town it was to arrive in. Along with it, I was notified that my award from the company I market for had been drop shipped the day I left. When I arrived on the island, I put in a request to have those items forwarded. It has now officially been one week since that request went in so chances are good that all my mail could hit today! If that happens, we'll begin the next phase of our journey, heading back home to Indiana.

Thinking of 'home', makes me think of my final destination, which makes me think of one of my favorite songs by Chris Tomlin "Home".  One of the things I do love about my life today is knowing that I am free and that my chains are broken. For so long I believed that I had blown it so badly that I had nothing of value to give. If you have ever felt like this or felt like there is not point in living, I beg you to grab a copy of my true life trilogy in either print or ebook format. I know it will open your eyes up to the tactics of the evil one. That alone is priceless, but it is my prayer that it also opens your eyes up to just how much God loves you and allows you to also experience freedom from guilt. It is my prayer that I am a mighty soldier in God's army helping my fellow brothers and sisters find the path to abundant living. It is my belief that since God called me forth to share my story to fulfill that life long dream.

If I gave all the details of my daily life, I believe most of you would be flabergasted that I truly love my life, but I do. My life is not easy and I promise you I live through incredible battles and storms, but today I live through them knowing that I am going to come out on the other end with my faith increased. I believe this is the result of the promise of God that what the enemy means for harm, He will use for good.

Baby steps is kind of how I got to where I am today and much of this walk is covered in my book. I am not blessed because I am a good person, far from it! I would be willing to put my money on the truth that you and I have something in common in the ways of regrets over our past. That is the beauty of reading this book of mine, it just might release you from all of that! What a gift that would turn out to be, eh?

It is hard for me to believe that it is already going on 11 AM here. The day goes super fast on this island! While I will miss the constant sound of horse hooves and bike bells, I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my car and beginning the next phase of  my faith journey. Be blessed today my friends, but more importantly, be a blessing, let your light shine and help others find their own way back home. 

Living on Faith Alone!

It has been forever and a day . . . well, more like a couple of months since I last blogged. The main reason for that would be that I was a campground host at Guanella Pass in Colorado for half the summer. Part of the position came with a free camp site but my amenities were nothing more than a hole in the ground for my sewage line!

My own personal cell phone barely worked which cracked me up since cell phone commercials often show someone climbing a mountain in order to get better service. As far as internet went, there was zilch. In order to submit my college assignments I would have to drive 25 miles down the mountain into the nearest town, turn on my hot spot and get everything that I had managed to accomplish loaded up.

One might wonder how I ended up in such a position; in a nutshell, it was in a final attempt to save my 13 year relationship with the father of my 6 youngest children. He kept claiming that if we just got back into the mountains all would be well. This turned out to not be the solution. My grandmother has since commented that she hopes I cling to all the things he said to me over this summer instead of falling prey to the things I wish were true. This brings me to a reminder that Jesus cautioned us about in Matthew 12:34, what is in the heart will spill out of the mouth sooner or later.

"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. (Matthew 12:34)

I have to admit if it weren't for my understanding of who I am in Christ and knowing how God sees me, Mike's words could have been detrimental to my life. In the end, with the way not only his words but his actions played out, I was forced to make the decision to step out in faith, crossing 6 states to hang out in Mackinac Island for a momentary reprieve in order to gather my steam and get my focus back.

I cannot begin to tell you how crazy my journey was. I left with only $436.00 to my name and by the grace of God I arrived 8 days later at the dock with the same amount of money. When Jesus tells us not to worry about things because our heavenly Father knows all our needs before we even ask, he means it! Not only was I gifted actual money, people blessed my children with drinks, snacks and even meals. He put a backyard mechanic in my path that fixed my overheating issues. The journey was amazing but the best thing about it is that my children witnessed faith in action.

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I am certain of this, "God loves me immensely!"

For those in life who are falling victim to negative words being spoken into your life, I encourage you to venture into the word of God, discover the armor He has provided and prepare for the battle we all face in this world. The evil one is real and his one mission is to destroy you. That was never God's plan. I could go on and on about the truths I have discovered in his word, and in a way that is exactly what I did in publishing my life story ~ if you are in the midst of surviving but not thriving today, purchase a copy in print or ebook and begin living an abundant life today!

Wendy Glidden

© Wendy Glidden 2017

Would You Step Out?

There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. - John 15:13 (NLT)

This was my encouraging word of the day.

It is true that Christ Jesus laid down his life for all of us in the most monumental way possible for one 'friend' to do for another. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same.

Love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself. It is often referred to as “The Great Commandment”.

When the Pharisees heard that the Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. (Matthew 22:34)

One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him “Teacher which is the great commandment in the Law?" (Matthew 22:35-36)

And He said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND'. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' (Matthew 22:37-40, NASB)

We live in a world today that is full of those who are ‘in it for themselves’. Selfishness abounds to the extent that many claim they are not selfish! As a whole, I find so many inconsiderate and justifiably so. I often wonder how so many can be so unaware. How did we become ‘a nation of self-absorbed better thans’? I believe the answer is simply the truth that a major portion of us turned away from the LORD. With each passing generation, darkness spreads.

So the big question is:

Do you care what He thinks?

Do you ponder upon His ways?

Have you forgotten Him or would you say you have never known Him?

Scripture states that if you seek God, you will find Him.

Can you say you have truly ever sought with all your heart?

Back in my day, we were taught the ‘golden rule’ (Do unto others . . . treat others as you believe you deserve to be treated.) That school of thought ~ ‘be considerate’ in other words is not discussed today as it was in the past.

As a nation, as a people, we need to turn back to the LORD. We need to seek His ways. We need to read His word. As we turn to Him, He will turn to us. Your turn must be genuine, not ritualistic. The state of your heart matters.

Today I am joyous that I know the LORD. I am thankful I know that I am loved by Him despite my imperfection. I am blessed to have Him in my corner. He always knows what I need before I even fully disclose it. His ways amaze me and leave me in awe daily.

Recently I uttered one of my infamous cry prayers. I was at a point where I had no more strength. I have been entrenched in battles daily, attacked from the powers of darkness. Granted, God has kept me standing through it all, but I was depleted. Sometimes, we need an encouraging word from fellow believers who too have walked in our shoes. A cause for hope that your life is valuable to the kingdom of God. I once talked to God for hours each day. I had big dreams and big plans. I share all of this in my book. However, in the end, I am just a girl and often I am secluded and overwhelmed and unable to mingle with others. There is something about sharing your story, your confident hope that renews your strength. So, here I was crying out to God and low and behold, my phone rings. I answered it and found myself in an hour long conversation with a fellow believer. God was using me to strengthen and encourage her just as much as He was using her for me!

In the end, we set a time to talk again this Tuesday. I found myself elated due to our conversation, but within hours, one of my biggest opponents was on the prowl again. Due to a barrage of verbal attacks, I again cried out to God and this time He had another believer reach out to me via an email over an ad I had placed.

After her initial comments, I gifted this girl a chapter out of my book and upon hearing that she would love to read the entire book, I gifted it to her. She had written me saying she loved the chapter, was amazed at how God had moved in my life at that time and she inquired how she could get the entire book.

I wrote back gifting her my Kindle copy. I was so elated to hear that she was inspired by a mere chapter and by the grace of God, my adversary was removed from me for the entire day. I ended up excelling at my studies and accomplished all I needed to ahead of time. As I was getting ready to close down my computer that evening, my email notification flagged me. This is what I read:

Wendy,

I just want you to know... I'm only in Chapter 4 of your book, but I am incredibly grateful to you for writing it! I grew up in the church since I was a toddler, and have had my own ups and downs in my faith, and in my relationship with God. I, like you, had a list of things that I would never do. But most were done, even while knowing I shouldn't have. There have been things I've done that at times have me believe I'm not worthy of God's love and grace, and I've had a hard time forgiving myself for my decisions and mistakes. I know God has forgiven me, but it's hard to forgive myself. In the middle of reading with tears in my eyes, I had to stop and pray... I honestly believe I was meant to stumble upon that random RV ad on craigslist. I just wanted you to know... if nothing comes of the RV for my family, me replying to that ad was worth it! My relationship with God is continuing to grow as I write this email... and I have you to thank for another spark in my heart to grow it even more. I'm looking forward to reading more of your story... again, thank you so very much!!! Yours in Christ!!✝️

~ Connie

Have you read my story? If not, consider clicking here to purchase your own print copy or here to purchase your own digital copy. Be blessed!

Father, thank you for my journey, for always being my emergency buddy even when I did not deserve one. Remind me that I too was once blind so that I have compassion for those whose eyes have not been opened. Remind me that they are hurting and it is why they strike out. They don't know better because they have refused to listen to you. Please help open their ears so that they not only hear, but that they listen. We need more warriors LORD and we need them to be encouraged. Help us strengthen one another through prayer, help us stay networked so that none of us are secluded. I want to be a mighty warrior in your army. I want to be one who points the way to You. Please cause my story to be used by those who are wearing the shoes that I once wore. Please use my story in many ways. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

© Wendy Glidden 2017

When Trouble Comes!

Even though it shouldn't catch me by surprise, I find myself often in awe of just what a little bit of pondering upon God, His ways, His words, can do for your mindset and in the end, your level of energy, optimism and outlook upon your life.

Today I face a lot. I have a 31 day old baby at home who I am breastfeeding, meaning a lot of my day is devoted to sitting and feeding him. Along with him, there are 5 more children under my roof all of whom are home schooled. Granted there day is planned out by the virtual charter school they are enrolled in, but there is a lot of stuff I have to help out with as well. On top of this, as all housemom's know, I am in charge of meals, cleaning, refereeing, and so much more!

With that being said, those who are my friends on social media know that recently, I was contacted by child services in regards to a call they received. It seems some concerned citizen found an issue with a couple of my children taking off their shoes while playing outside. To make matters worse, they were also seen looking through the items that had been removed from 6 vacant homes in our division. As delightful Delilah explained when I questioned her, "We were looking through treasure!" The caller felt that this activity put their lives in danger even though this 'dump' area looks like a disorganized garage sale! Another reason for this report was this concerned citizen was worried that my children were not in school as they had seen them playing outside prior to the school bus dropping off the other children in the neighborhood.

While all of these charges may seem ridiculous to my generation, unless you have experienced the government contacting you with a charge of neglect, you cannot fathom what this does to one's heart. Even though I knew in truth, I am not a neglectful parent; my children always come first in my home, I was still freaked out by the call. I had to schedule a home visit and each child was to have a personal interview with the caseworker. In the end, I reacted to this attack as I do all attacks; I requested all believers to pray for social justice over my case. I tried not to worry as I reminded myself that God had me covered.

This is part of why diving into the word of God on a regular basis is so beneficial to your outlook. One of the passages I read, included this:

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. (Psalm 27:5, NLT) 

As parents, we live in scary times. Almost anything can be viewed as neglect. My own parents would have been thrown in jail for such charges. My brother and I were pretty adventurous in our days! While I didn't really need to be hidden per say, I did feel the need to be protected from the evils in this world. After all, a caseworker is a human being. They have the final say in whether or not to charge you with neglect or as in my case, to close your case finding no fault. 

Today, I encourage you to stay in the word each and every day. Not only will it energize you, it will keep your mind from worry. God is great and He loves us. Grasp that and you will be doing well!

Father, I have so much to thank you for. My cup truly does runneth over. I am blessed in knowing I am blessed. How cool is that! Thank you for everything. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray.

Wendy, mom of many, walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2017

The Stress Free Zone

Just where and how can one find themselves firmly planted in the stress free zone? There is only one road that will take you there: finding faith in the truth of Christ Jesus.

Over the course of my life, I have had people refer to me in ways suggesting that I am strong. At my best, I was weak before I learned who I am in Christ. My life has never been truly easy, granted many of the hardships I faced were of my own causing. Today, my life is not easy on a good day, but it is abundant.

When chaos strikes I find my strength comes from the LORD in greater ways. I guess in a way, the chaos itself is a blessing for it always increases my faith in the truth that God indeed is there for me in amazing ways. Just KNOWING that is comforting.

I don't deny that there are moments that I find myself overwhelmed because I do. What saves me is my relationship with the LORD. I am constantly reminded of truths found in His word.

1. I am a child of God
2. He loves me
3. He hears me when I pray
4. He knows my name
5. No weapon formed against me will prevail
6. I live in a fallen world
7. The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy
8. I need not fear the enemy because my God is a conqueror
9. God has never forsaken me

A crazy thing happens when you begin to share your love for Christ, the enemy attacks in greater ways and on a more constant basis. While he does this in order to destroy me, God uses the battles to assure me that He is my God, I am His people and He dwells with me. He is there for me, it is His promise, a covenant that I can rest in.

I can't help but reflect upon how deeply some hated Christ. They hated him so much they sought his death. If they hated Him to that degree, it is easier to understand why some in the world today hate me. Their hate and desire to destroy me has nothing to do with me in all reality, it has to do with my love for Christ. The world has a saying, "misery loves company". We have a name for those kind of people, "Player Haters". While I am no player, I do count myself blessed. God loves me. I don't say that to boast for He loves all of his children. I know this for fact for even while I spited Him in my past, He loved me. He protected me. He provided for me. He taught me and patiently waited for me to 'get it'. All of this is revealed in the story He called me forth to share. You can read all about it here.

You see, today I am seeking my Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies while raising a family of 6. The oldest under my roof are 12 year old twin girls and the youngest is a 21 day old baby boy. 31 years ago, I was a high school dropout raising my first baby. In the middle, I gave birth to 9 other babies, one of whom I gave up for adoption . . . my story is long and much of it is not pretty but what God did in the midst of it is quite amazing. You should read my life story. I guarantee there is a message from God for you in the mix of it all!

I share all of this to not only encourage you in the midst of hard times, but to also remind myself just how Great our God is. After all, we all need to be encouraged and reminded it is why we are encouraged to both seek God with all our hearts as well as to have fellowship with other believers. This world is not our home and there are more that are blind and deaf to the truth than there are those who are awake. We must remember to pray for one another daily, to ask for protection and provision as well as wisdom and knowledge. May you find yourself blessed in multiple ways today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, walks with God, mom of many

© Wendy Glidden 2017

The Final Countdown

Here I am on April 12th still pregnant. My due date for this little bundle of joy was back on April 4th. For those of us who have been given due dates in the past, we understand that they are a close guesstimate of when the baby should arrive. I was really hoping that things would go according to my plans and this little guy would arrive during spring break. Obviously that is not how things have played out.

I try to just breath every day which is a bit difficult with a baby inside of you who is hogging up your lung capacity. Yesterday, I actually broke down into tears. I am beyond uncomfortable. My body hurts and I am ready to be carrying this baby in my arms rather than inside of me. I didn't cry long, just a few exasperated tears.

I go to the doctor today at 4:10 to see how things are going. Because I am 48 years old and one week overdue, today I will also be hooked up to monitors and have a fetal stress test performed. My doctor mentioned last week that we are going to have to look at inducing if I did not go into labor on my own prior to this visit. While I truly wanted to go on my own, I have to admit having a true final date for this pregnancy is what I want.

It is times like this in life that I find it the most difficult to keep my focus on the LORD and His will in my life. I find I am like a child crying out instead of an adult waiting patiently upon Him. As my emotions have attempted to bubble over, I have tried to remind myself of things found in the word of God to calm myself. The one that comes to mind the most is found in my favorite Psalm, Psalm 46, specifically verse 10:

This verse reminds me that He is in control.

Today I urge all who are staring at the days ahead and losing their focus as I have found myself doing lately to also remember to put their trust and hope in Him. I keep telling myself that it is all in God's timing. Most of the time that does the trick. Like you, I am human and am prone to moments of tears and frustration. This is just one of many reasons we are called to pray for one another! Be blessed my sisters and brothers in Christ and continue to be a blessing in the lives of others.

Wendy, mom of many, walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2017

There is Always a Silver Lining

Most of us have heard the saying, 'find the silver lining'. It is one of the better worldly pieces of advice, but you don't have to look far to find this very advice written a little differently in God's word. A great example is found in Philippians 4:8.

The yuck in life is always noticeable. We have no trouble seeing it. Where our trouble lies is seeing beyond it.

A funny thing happens in life when you voluntarily decide to change your focus from the yuck to searching for the good; the bad doesn't seem quite as bad. You are able to reason that this too is just a moment.

For instance, yesterday was my due date for delivering this baby boy. It came and went without the arrival. Today I went to the doctor and discovered that I am not any closer to going into labor than I was last week. Now I could elect to focus on how miserable I feel. My back, my legs, my hips, my bones in general all hurt. As if that were not enough, I am having serious trouble getting a good night sleep as I have to go to the bathroom a million times a night. This line of thinking will only cause me to become distraught over my discomfort. Instead, I must find the silver lining in this situation. My silver lining in this situation is that I have another week to finalize all the things on my to do list that have yet to be finished.

That may not seem like a big deal but when you are already juggling a full load, it is!

I am certain that no matter what you are facing today that if you just concentrate on the things in your life that are good and pure and lovely, your attitude towards your life situation will brighten.

A key to ensuring that this change in attitude sticks would be seeking out what God's will is in your life. Seeking Him is the beginning of change. The last couple of presidential elections have been based on slogans revolving around change. The world doesn't ever really change, it goes through cycles, but with the help of the LORD, humanity can and does change. There is only one way for this change to take place permanently and that is to confess to God that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness once and for all, accepting Christ as your LORD and Savior. When you do this, your heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Are you ready to live an abundant life? Are you ready to wake up every day looking forward to what lies ahead? Then begin seeking Him with all your heart!

Today I pray that you desire to live abundantly; that you search out the truths found in the word for yourself. I pray that your eyes are opened and that you grow in wisdom. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.

Wendy, walks with God, mother of many

© Wendy Glidden 2017

Name It and Claim It . . . The Meaning of Abundant Living

In today's age, we have so many leaders of faith telling people to "claim" it when discussing verses of abundance. I cringe when I see it first hand for I know the patience of most people. They lose faith in such circumstances as these.

Just because you want wealth and health does not mean that you can simply claim it and it will become your reality. If that were the case, tons of greedy people would be coming to God and there would be no doubt as to His existence.

In the end, those that proclaim their belief in the Son of God, accepting Him as their LORD and Savior and repenting with a Godly sorrow for falling prey to their flesh, will have complete health and eternal life lacking nothing. The floors of Heaven are paved in gold after all!

When Jesus made the statement that He came in order for us to not only live, but to live abundantly, He was not speaking of wealth and riches per say. He was speaking to being able to live freely, enjoying life regardless of the trouble that is also promised to come our way!

To be joyous in the midst of turmoil is indeed a form of living abundantly! Another interesting thing concerning abundance is that when you trust in the LORD for all your needs, He can provide for you in the craziest unbelievable ways. In other words, there is the world's economy and there is God's.

Allow me to share a story of how I have witnessed this working in my own life. When my birthday came around this year, I received $25 from my grandma. Wanting to make the most out of this gift, I decided to visit my local goodwill. You just never know what you might find there. As I walked through the store, I came upon a massage chair. Not just a normal one either. This has speakers built into it that recline back as arm rests but if you leave them up by your head with your arms down, the entire room fades away and you only hear the radio. As if that weren't enough, this chair reclines all the way back, almost into a flat position, so the massage balls actually massage your muscles. The controller allows you to pick what area you want massaged. On top of the massage, you can add vibration to your back and your legs. I sat in a chair in the mall like this over a decade ago. The cost was over $1200 back then. These chairs today cost that and even more, of course they have improved over time and the new styles are listed under the world's economy. This chair at goodwill is an old model and it was priced at $29.99! I could not believe my eyes.

As some of you know, I am pregnant at 48. My back hurts. Having access to a daily on demand massage would be nothing short of miraculous.

In the end, since it was my birthday month and I have a rewards card for goodwill, I got my normal 10% off and a $5.00 coupon for my birthday. In the end, this incredible chair cost me $22.01!

I am not wealthy by far, but that has not stopped God from gifting me in such incredible ways. I live abundantly. I say this in the face of never ending storms that appear in my life. Not a month goes by that I don't find myself facing moments of trouble. The difference in the troubles I faced prior to accepting Christ as my LORD and Savior verses those that I have faced after is that many of my storms after have been more intense and crazy than those I faced and fought in my own strength. I certainly was not able to laugh and enjoy my day come what may. Today I do. That is what living abundantly is all about. As He says, don't fret, He has overcome the world! KNOWING and UNDERSTANDING what this means for you is LIFE CHANGING! Today I pray you seek Him; Name it and claim it. Jesus is the Son of God, He came so that we could be reconciled back to God. This is a gift, not anything we could ever earn on our own. Claim your gift today!

Reflect upon your life. Truly reflect. If anything in your past causes a twinge of guilt or regret, admit that even you are not proud of all your past. Confess this, admit your shortcomings, ask God for His forgiveness, ask for help, ask Him to teach you to listen to Him and so that you can walk in the spirit ignoring the desires of the flesh. The more you seek Him, the easier this becomes.

Today I pray that you begin to truly seek Him. In the end, He is the best friend a person could ever hope to have. Not many people in this world would lay down their lives in order to save yours. He is the treasure. He is the key to abundant living. Please step out of the shadows and seek to know Him. No joke, your very life depends on this! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, walks with God, mom of many

© Wendy Glidden 2017

Life is Too Short to Not Live it Abundantly!

Not many people in the world know that I gave a baby up for adoption back in 1991 on April 3rd. Giving her up almost caused me to lose my mind. This is something that I share fully in my book: "You are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding". 

If I had only understood then what I understand today, I would have never let her go. However that was then and this is now. Ironically as I am typing this out, K-Love began playing a song that is titled That was Then This is Now by Josh Wilson.

Today I am 48 years old and once again with child. My due date for this baby is 4/4/2017. To say that I am more than ready to deliver this child into the world would be an understatement, but I am hoping that I do not go into labor today.

Memories and mistakes of the past can often come forward to the present day and attempt to steal our peace. April 3rd is always a day of reflection for me. I once hoped that this child that I placed in another home would come find me. I would just love to see her and know that she is okay, alas, I must face the truth that that day may never come.

With that being said, I must remember that I am a different person today then I was back then. The major difference can be credited to my relationship with the LORD. Back then I viewed Him as my nemesis, today I know that He loves me and I know that He always has me. I don't have to fear what will come tomorrow for I am perfectly content in living out each day as it comes.

In Scripture we learn that even back in the days that Jesus walked the earth, people worried about what might take place tomorrow. This lets you know that the enemy has been pulling people into fearing the future as a ploy to steal their peace. He attempts to also get us to focus on our past so that we remain chained by guilt and shame. Both of these are ploys of the evil one. All we have to do to successfully avoid this snare is to remember what Jesus tells us:

"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?" Luke 12:25, NASB

Today I encourage you to not look behind or beyond. Stay in today. Stay in communication with God. Ask Him every question on your heart. In the days that Jesus walked the earth, the Spirit was not something that resided inside of humanity. It was something that was poured out after He sat beside our Father in Heaven. Since then, life on earth has had the ability to truly live abundantly. It is one of the reasons He came.

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

I pray that you grasp the depth of that statement. First understand that Satan is your enemy, he is the invisible thief that has been working against you every day. He is shrewd and he has battled humanity for thousands of years. Next, grasp this truth, Jesus came here and walked among us, teaching and fulfilling the law so that we might not fall prey to Satan's ploys and instead live abundantly, full of joy all of our days on earth and then eternally therafter. That is certainly something to be joyful over every day regardless of all the enemy attempts to distract you with.

In truth, Jesus too battled Satan while He walked upon the earth. The craziest thing to think is that Satan knew who he was dealing with and this knowing did not stop him in trying to outwit the son of God! Jesus is the only son of man that did not fall into sin, instead, he battled and defeated Satan. He paid the ransom for all humanity, sadly not all humanity will recognize this truth. I pray that you do. I pray you that you accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior and then learn how to armor yourself spiritually.

Had I learned all of this who knows how far in my faith journey I would be today. What I do know is that I am forever thankful to know what I know today. I know God loves me. I read His word and I find myself on top of the world. Thankful and Joyous beyond understanding. He knows my name and He hears me. That is something to stand in awe of. Afterall, I am just a girl after God's heart. Nothing more, nothing less. What is even more incredible is this truth, while I spited him and committed deeds of darkness, cursing Him, He loved me.

Life is so short and it seems for many it is becoming even shorter. They are slaves to addiction in more forms than one would have ever thought might exist. Those of us that recognize the battle for what it is. Those of us that have come back home, those of us that are followers of Christ, we must pray for our fellow brethren. May the captives be set free. May they begin to hear the voice of God louder than the voice of sin.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

I leave you with one final thought for those who believe that they are unworthy of God's attention, He came because He found you worthy. Don't you find yourself becoming curious about what else His word might hold for you?

Should you be a person with questions regarding how one comes to faith, I invite you to read my life story. God had me write it in a way that should open your eyes to truths in your own life. Click here for a copy in print and click here for an electronic copy. Print is only $9.99 and electronic is only $3.99. If you are a fan of true life stories, may you find yourself inspired and hopeful in reading mine.

Be blessed my friends, but more importantly, BE a blessing.

Wendy, walks with God, mother to many

© WendyGlidden 2017

Timing, Joy, and More!

Six days and counting until my due date for Zechariah James arrives. Time flies so fast. In reflection, it is amazing to see God's timing through all of it. For instance, I began seeking my Associates Degree in Biblical Studies in 2014. This came about because I prayed for God to give me more knowledge regrading His word. You can only imagine my shock when I realized He was pointing me back to school! Yet here I am in 2017 with that degree in hand! I managed to finish my last course for that degree on March 19th, just 3 weeks before I was due to give birth!

I certainly never expected to be pregnant at 48 years of age, but I have come to understand just how big of a blessing a child is. I have no idea what God has planned for me next but I certainly am grateful for these last couple of weeks prior to childbirth to get everything in order prior to delivery. I could have never planned things out so beautifully.

It is certainly something to be joyful over! Recently it seems my heart has been pulled by songs that speak to the truth that in life we hit bumps in the road that often leave us momentarily paralyzed in a way. This is why it is so vital for us to wear our spiritual armor every single day. When we fail to get properly dressed, we risk falling from a momentary state of not being able to move straight into full blown depression where one has trouble getting out of bed.

The reason this takes place I believe is that much of the world has been connived into believing that happiness is the same as joy, just as they have been manipulated into seeing lust as love. These are tactics that the evil one implemented long ago. While he was filtering that belief into society, he began working on humanities disbelief in an active and caring God. 

Of those remaining in the world today, not many know God on a personal level. They do not see Him as their Father, which is interesting to say the least. I say this because in Scripture when Jesus was asked by his disciples how we should pray, He began by saying "Our Father who art in Heaven". 

Think about that! OUR Father. OUR. To know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us, who actively seeks us. Who has taken the time to write out in multiple genres who He is and all we need to know to live an abundant life while here on earth. When you take into consideration that the average human lives to be 80 years of age, it is something to know and understand that He even takes the time to consider us at our worst! 

Yet He didn't stop there. When humanity fell, God did not give up on us, He made a way for us to get back home again. To be in fellowship with Him now and for all eternity. I think the saddest thing is so many are blind to this truth. It truly makes me want to kick the Father of lies right in the shin. I feel like everyone should be able to see the facts and make a choice on where they stand. I say they should be able to see because Satan has the power to blind us to the truths found in Scriptures. This is another reason we must wear our armor. 

I have battled Satan in various ways ever since I accepted Christ as my LORD and Savior. He has attacked me straight on, he has attacked me in my dreams, he has attacked me through loved ones and even strangers. I know he can blind people from the truth because I have witnessed this first hand. I believe he can even make you see things that are not real. 

This simple instruction found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 is major. 

1. Always be joyful: Joy is what you feel when you realize that your hope is in the LORD come what may. Your hope lies in Him because you have come to understand that He is faithful even if you don't always get your way in life. He has a plan for you and He is the source of Joy and Strength in times of trouble. 

2. Never stop praying: just as there are multiple ways in which the evil one attacks, there are even more forms of prayer. If you never stop praying, in essence, you never stop talking to God. EVERY Morning before you even place your feet on the floor, open up a dialogue with your heavenly father. This is vital to your well being. It is why it is part of the instructions!

3. Be thankful in all circumstances: This may seem difficult but even in the worst of situations, you have something to be thankful for. That one thing is that you are a child of God. If you cling to nothing else in the midst of the storm, tell yourself this continuously by saying, "I am blessed to know that I am a child of God." It will change things. 

Today if you find that you have trouble getting out of bed, then today is the day you need to begin a new routine. You need to get plugged into the word of God. While there are many ways to do this, I personally invite you to read my life story. God called me forth in 2012 to open my closet and share my life with the world. I have not had an easy or pretty life. I was held captive by the evil one for decades. While I am not proud of my past, I am thrilled to share how God saw things that I was blind to. I believe that this may prepare you for your own personal relationship with the LORD. If you are one who prefers to hold an actual book, you can purchase my story for only $9.99 by clicking here. If you prefer to read books on an electronic device, you can purchase my story for only $3.99 by clicking here. I will be praying for your eyes to be opened to the truths found in God as well as to the tactics employed by the evil one. 

Father, I want to thank you for my abundant life. For so long as you know I was blind. I was bound in chains of guilt and remorse. I viewed you as my foe not my father. How shrewd the enemy is. I pray that more and more and more and more of your people begin to wake up and seek your truth. As we talked when I was younger, I pray that my story inspires hope in others and causes them to turn to you as I did. We live in such dark times. I am often shocked about all that is going on but I am not afraid. I am thankful that I know You. That I realize we live in the midst of a battle that most do not recognize. Today Father I petition you to touch those who are bound by depression. Fill their lives with a beam of light so bright they are stirred by curiosity to seek where that light comes from. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, walks with God, mom of many

© Wendy Glidden 2017

Seek Wholeheartedly to Achieve All Things.

If you asked me what my favorite song was today, hands down I would reply Even If by Mercy Me. It simply speaks to my soul.

So often, people will give up on God because He does not perform the way they think He should. They question why things happen to some and not others. They want answers where there simply are none.

This song touches on mountains that God sometimes leaves unmovable in our lives. It speaks to heartache that doesn't come to an end immediately upon request.

In truth, we should not be so surprised when loved ones pass regardless of our prayers for healing. We live in a fallen world. We all will face death. On top of that, we all face moments in time that we don't think we'll live through. Moments in time that leave us broken and blue.

We must remember that in all of that, we live in a fallen world, but bigger than that we serve a God who has offered us a life line. All we have to do is seek Him. It is amazing what happens when you get to know God. The world itself doesn't change, but the life you live does.

To truly stake a claim at wholeheartedly searching, one must seek God out everyday. In building a true relationship with the LORD, you will begin to see Him moving in your life. You will learn to trust Him even if you don't like how things in life are going. As the lyrics of Even if state, your hope will be in Him alone. You come to understand His promises are true and He is and has always been faithful and true.

Today, I invite you to listen to this song. Drink in the words. Get to a point in your life where from the heart, regardless of all this broken world is throwing your way, you can say, "It is well with my soul.".

Father, please help my fellow brethren get to this stage in their life where their hope is always found in you. I know that my strength and joy comes from you, may they come to learn this truth as well. May I become a mouthpiece that speaks to these truths. May I be used in all ways by you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, mom of many, girl who walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2017

In the Midst of Spiritual Warfare's Introduction

Dear Reader,

Think of this book as nothing more than Basic Training 101in the matters of spiritual warfare.

When you play sports later in life, often your coach will share information with you regarding the other team. You study them. You find their weakness. This is how you build your strategy against them.

The same theory works in a way when dealing with the father of lies. He is a formidable foe. Even Jesus credits him with deceptive intelligence:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16, NASB)

Satan has been prowling this earth for a very long time. We witness his activity against humanity almost from the beginning. However, in all that is recorded about him, we know of only one weakness of his. He knows all of ours. On top of that truth, he has had countless years chalked up in the game of spiritual warfare. Humanity on the other hand has not passed down the information regarding such things. The majority of us don’t even have a clue that it is going on around us, or that we are being used to advance the side of darkness. We are going through life without learning how to actually live it. This needs to change.

The one weakness that Satan has is Jesus Christ. You see, the enemy comes at us for one thing; Jesus Christ is the key to escaping that fate and so much more.

"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)

There are a few steps one must take in order to become successful in living abundantly. The most important one is that you fully believe and accept that Jesus Christ is both the Son of God and the son of man. You must believe that he died on the cross for all your sins. You must come face to face with the truth that you are a sinner and you must repent from the heart with a Godly sorrow asking God to change you into a new creation. From that point forth, it is vital that you seek His wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is not enough to be saved yourself. We are all called to a higher duty. We are meant to be representations of the glory of God. How on earth can you fulfill your purpose if you never take the time to educate yourself in His word? It is while seeking and searching out these truths, that you grow in faith; that you grasp fully the concept of grace; that you come to know that you have been forgiven and that you are truly free. To escape the chains of bondage, to know that at one time in your life, the enemy had successfully connived you will become a driving force in your desire to free others from captivity.

When you become a warrior for Christ, you are stepping onto the battlefield against an army you cannot see, against a foe with more experience than you could ever gain on your own and in your own understanding. Your only defense lies solely on your faith and trust in the LORD your God.

There are a few other things you should know. The enemy never sleeps. He will attack you directly, in your dreams, through family, friends, enemies and even strangers. For decades, he had me completely outwitted. Today I know where my strength comes from. I know even fully dressed, Satan is capable of side swiping my feet out from under me. I understand the importance of prayer as well as the vitalness of reading Scripture daily. It is my hope that as you read this book, you too begin to dress fully for battle; that you become willing to step onto the battlefield. That you become a part of the army fighting against darkness.

Grab a Bible, or pull one up on your electronic device of choice. There will be sections in this book that may cause you to want to research the Scriptures on your own. You should never take another person’s word on such important matters as these. Be willing to investigate things on your own. Remember, always pray for understanding before you begin reading. Petition the LORD to open your eyes to the truth.

Wendy, mom of many, girl who walks with God

Father,

What a journey it has been. The battles you have seen me through! The biggest blessing in my life is finally knowing You. Knowing that You are faithful, that You hear me, even bigger that you know my name. Me. I am just a girl but you love me. This knowledge, it is major in this day and age; a complete game changer. I pray that countless become witness to such a game changer in their own lives. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

© Wendy Glidden 2017

Love Is . . .

Often when things are going well in a person’s life, they will make mention that ‘God is good’. I have come to learn that God is good all the time not just when the sun is out!

He is faithful and for those who truly seek Him out, He is full of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and strength. In truly seeking out God, I believe you find yourself face to face with the truth found only in Christ.

From the very beginning of the story, we witness that God enjoys fellowship with man. It is the father of lies who over the years has perfected how to trick the masses into believing things like ‘God is a vengeful God; One who is out to make life difficult for you when, with a snap of His fingers, He could solve all the problems in the world if He truly loved all of us.’ Or the lie that ‘We are not good enough to receive God’s love; we are unworthy of it.’

Both of those lies were one’s that I once believed. However, I have come to learn the truth. God is Love.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

I don’t know about you, but even as I have come to accept Christ Jesus as my LORD and Savior, I still fall prey to the flesh and it reveals its ugliness the greatest when taking a look at just what love is! I fall short of this list often.

Today is what the world refers to as Valentine’s Day. A day for us to show love to one another in grandiose ways. For me, it is a day to reflect upon the love of my LORD, which is endless! May all of you experience His love this year!

Wendy, Mom of Many, girl who walks with God

 © Wendy Glidden, 2017

It All Depends on Who You KNOW!

It is mornings like this that I reflect upon all the incredible truths I have learned over the course of the last few years. I cannot imagine having to face the things I face each and every day without having found my unmovable faith in all I have learned, in who I KNOW.

In life, there are moments when we ask ourselves some big questions. We've finally arrived at a space in time where we seek truth in regards to what life is all about. We question why things are going the way they are. We wonder if it will ever change or get better. We think, 'What is the point?' or 'What on earth can I do?' and even bigger, 'Where do I have left to turn?'

I was in that space in time just over 7 years ago. As my mind raced through many of these questions, my heart landed on exactly who I needed to have a conversation with. I knew right then that only God could help me walk beyond where I was. I didn't call Him Father that day. I did not see or think of Him in that way. Knowing God as Father is truly life changing. A lot of the people turn to God in a day, but not many see Him as their Father.

Many would agree that this world is broken in many ways. In the word of God we discover that when man fell, he took all creation on earth with him. Genesis paints a picture of beauty and it is only after the fall that we are introduced to thorns, thistles, toil and pain.

I'm taking an environmental science class this semester and I ran across this quote the other day:

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." 

John Muir.

This is the very reason that our sin affected everything else in the world. That in itself is kind of a depressing thought. One must ponder, "How do we get back to the way things were before the fall?"

That information is also in the Bible. Some try to say that Science and the Bible don't match up, but the more I study all the subjects of the world, the more I find the Bible to be sound. If I want truth, the word of God is my number one source. 

One truth that is undeniable is that we all have the same enemy here on earth. He has been here for a very long time. So long in fact that in the word of God, we are introduced to Him in Volume I, chapter 3; the early days of Adam and Eve. In chapter four, we discover that he toyed with their first child and caused him to turn his ears off to God and the end result of that action was murder.

This enemy's goal to this very day is to 'steal, kill and destroy'. He resents humanity. The good news is, all humanity has a way in which to overcome this enemy, to live abundantly here on earth and in the end live eternally the way God intended for us to live all along. You must discover the truth in Christ Jesus and accept Him as your LORD and Savior.

Some instantly hear the call and feel the truth resonate inside of them. Others, like me, hesitantly take steps forward in the knowledge of this truth. We don't want to be tricked into believing and trusting in what we are not certain of. I guess in a very real way, we have that in common with the one who is referred to as 'doubting Thomas'. 

Interestingly enough, it was in my pursuit of wisdom in regards to my life, and a desire to be forgiven for my past that I can't even put into words that drove me to seek the big answer; 'Is Jesus Christ truly the only begotten son of God, was He sent to save me, and am I saveable?'

When you read my life story, you see it was a journey for me and not a leap of faith. I KNOW God today. I am able to trust in Him. I know His plans for me are good. This knowledge is part of what protects me from the ploys and attacks of the enemy.

If you long for an abundant life but don't know where to begin, I pray you purchase my life story for a measly $3.99 and begin your own journey today.

Father, I am so thankful for your rest in the midst of my most chaotic life. I could not walk this path in joy without you. The difference of life before truly knowing You and after are literally night and day. So much in your word tells us this will be the case. I pray more seek this truth for themselves. May the story you put on my heart to share with the world be read by all who stumble upon this blog today and tomorrow and all the days to come. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

Wendy, Mom of Many, walks with God

© Wendy Glidden 2017