Friday, October 14, 2022
Getting Back to Business!
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Back in Battle
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Are You Also a "Busy Bee"?
Good afternoon everyone! I hope today has found you enthusiastically serving our Father by letting your lights shine and encouraging others who cross your path today. It would seem one of the repeating messages this week had a lot to do with encouraging one another in simple ways. I think those of us who have our love language dialed in on words of affirmation, find encouraging words even more special than most. I know for me that is the case.
One of my first big “Ah hah!” moments when it came to God truly wanting a life-long relationship with us was when I was shown that in the beginning God was seen walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). Not long after that, I found God taking the time to give wise council to Cain in regard to his anger and how he must overcome his emotions and begin doing what was right or he would be overcome by sin. As I grew in the word, I discovered again and again, God reaching out to mankind with encouraging words.
When I was an innocent, I walked and talked to God daily, but I never put much thought into the truth that he wanted that type of relationship with all his children. Along the way, I drifted and became a prodigal and remained there for almost 3 decades.
When I learned about the story of the Father watching for the prodigal and how he saw him way off in the distance and RAN to him, I can’t tell you how it hit me, but I am certain all other prodigals are fully aware of how powerful that story is in the Bible. Over the course of the last ten years, I have been blessed to hear my Heavenly Father encourage me in my walk again and again. I pray that you hear Him cheering you on as well.
One of my favorite people where I work is a person I have nicknamed “Busy Bee”. I gave her this nick name because she is always in the middle of something huge. She always has a smile on her face, and
She purposely pretends to be up to "something mischievous". Due to these traits I find her to be quite hilarious and she makes me laugh constantly. I simply adore her. She loves the LORD tremendously, but is in her own struggle today. She knows who she is in Christ and she knew she could not be the best representative today and has instead elected to escape for some one on one time with the LORD to work out things. In Scripture, we also witness Jesus taking time to be with God one on one. She called in to let me know I would not see her tonight and to pass on the word. I asked if she’d like to be lifted up in prayer and she said yes, so please lift her up along with me for peace and the ability to set aside her human emotions, forgive, not be offended and move beyond the moment.
At times, just the speed of life and how we are forced to live it can cause us to stumble in the flesh having momentarily gotten caught up in the world’s view of life. Today, as we approach the season of crazy busy, may we all take a moment to sit at the feet of Jesus and just breathe.
I leave all my “busy bees” with this poem. May you be blessed with time alone with God before the day ends.
The
Fruit of the Spirit is What I am After!
Too much to do and not enough time
Chaos & craziness filling my mind
I'll give the devil his due
He's an expert at tricking me and you
When something causes you worry
Slow down ~ what's your hurry?
Take a moment to pray for what you need
With God on your side you're sure to succeed
When I feel life's pressures are becoming too demanding
I remember Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your
heart
And lean NOT on your own understanding."
I call upon the Lord I do and I sing his praises
I bathe in his Glory oh the way he amazes
So I say to Satan, "You've got no hold on me!
My God came here so I could live abundantly!"
The fruit of the spirit ~ that's what I'm after
This life is mine to serve the LORD and I'll fill it with
laughter!
© Wendy Glidden 2012 - 2021
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Ministry Experiment 101
Many of you know my dream has to been to help the lost find their way back to firm footing in the LORD. I've actually been praying for it, this ministry of mine. Recently the opportunity came to help a homeless couple out with a little bit of shelter, some great food, conversation, goal setting and Bible study. My little first experiment at the type of ministry I want to run lasted a mere 4 days and 5 nights.
God made me see her how he saw her and I know I was a life line for her. As she walked down the driveway this morning under his insistence that since he was out, so was she, I told her my offer for a one-way ticket back home would always be available.
When I first saw her, she looked like a ghost. Ironically, I learned her email name includes the name "ghostgirl" along with some numbers that I am sure mean something to her. When I invited them to spend the night as it was already getting dark when they asked for a ride to Fort Myers, her only question to my offer was could she take a shower. She was nothing but a bag of bones, teeth missing and looking so ragged. I knew she was an addict of something and I knew the same was true of him. God didn't move me where he was concerned and I kind of get why. My soft spot is definitely for the female species and children.
He did not give me a ton of time alone with her, but she was part of my homeschool Bible study for a few days and in those few days, we spoke of faith, my own walk, I gifted her my book in digital format and instructed her to read the first 4 chapters yesterday, write down any questions she had and that we would sit for an hour to go over them as well as to work on her goal chart today. That step of course never took place. I have a hunch his assignment along with the promise that they would both come to the Friday night meeting for those struggling with addiction at my church was the driving element that brought about their leaving today. His homework involved finding 7 references to his role as husband and father per God's word. This person knew the Bible, like he really knew his way around the word. The biggest thing I learned in this experiment was that being saved and being open to the sanctification process are indeed two very different things. To say it perplexed me to have him know so much of God's word and yet be so far out of step would be an understatement.
It just goes to prove that knowledge and wisdom are two completely different forms of "smarts". Often when I meet people, I begin to take an inventory of who they remind me of from the Bible, I find the world is full of men who very much fall into what I call the "Sampson" category; someone with many talents who is not living up to his full purpose. The man in this situation is one who is truly shackled by the Father of Lies, completely missing out on who God created him to be. If he would just get right, he could be very influential in the army of Christ. He is a Christian rapper. I listened to a couple of soundtracks of his and they are good. I was hoping I could go through my history and share a link to his stuff, but alas I can't find any of it.
Mike said next time we can give someone a ride but we are not bringing them home ever again . . . in looking for a picture to include, I found this one of a couple and couldn't help but notice their sign. May this couple one day at least be able to write something like this truthfully themselves.
I know I planted a seed in both of them and that will have to be enough for now. Until God blesses me with more than my own place, this will be my one and only experiment like this out of our home. I still have big plans and pray that God will provide all I need to launch it soon for the need out there is great.
Father, please watch over her, protect her and encourage her to go back home. She has a son who needs her and I just pray that her love for him and her desire to see him again overtake the urge for one more dose of whatever holds her in bondage. Please let her be healed. Remove the addiction, remind her of who she is in you, let my story bless her and set her free from her abuser. May her eyes be opened to the trap she has fallen in and help her fly free of it Father. In Jesus name I pray. I also petition for your words to be absorbed into his heart. Keep him from striking her in any form, physical or emotional. Help him to gain wisdom and not just use his knowledge for gain. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Wendy, Mom of Many
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Seek Before you Speak!
Totally Terrific Testimonial Tell-all Tuesday.
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Stay in the Moment!
The war rages on
Saturday, February 27, 2021
A Birthday Wish!
This morning as I worked on organizing the house, a chore that never ends, I heard a song that gained my full attention right from the start.
I am always drawn to songs that mention that God personally knows my name. This one made that claim. In my heart, this fact is huge because it is true. Those of you who have taken the time to read my story and bless my ministry in the purchase of my 3 part trilogy, already know that God did indeed call me by name. You also know he breathed life into me, for I died momentarily in a house fire. I have been sung to by angels, taken to court by Satan, found myself face to face with a demon dog and those are just a few crazy events that I share in full detail throughout my personal story.
It is hard to believe but my 52nd birthday is right around the corner. This year for my birthday, all I want is for all my friends and acquaintances to do at least one of these three things ~ Now if you desire to do more than one or even do one several times, I am perfectly fine with whatever God moves you to do.
My 3 birthday wishes are as follows:
#1) Buy a minimum of one copy of "You are Worthy Too: The Proof is in the Pudding". You can either keep it and read it yourself or gift it to a homeless shelter, a person who seems down, or someone you know loves to read true life stories. (You'll find a link on the side of this post that will take you to the book on amazon and also, increase my commission!)
#2) PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW if you have read this book in the past or if you purchase and read it for my birthday gift. Again, you can leave a review by clicking here.
#3) If I have begged you for years to give me your time so that I can show you a way to save money with your anyway money, finally be willing to set aside 25 minutes in order for me to show you why I think you will be happy ~ even thrilled to switch name brands and gain a ton of value and money saving perks along side all the other goodness that switching has to offer.
My goal is to truly have all my friends take me up on number 1 & 2. The traffic that this would drive to my book would be a game changer. It is books with a ton of reviews that get featured on Amazon. Help me reach so many who need a word of encouragement spoken over them.
Thank you in advance! With that being said, for those who love Christian music, and think you might like to hear the song I heard this morning click this link. https://youtu.be/9sqLqR41Ulg
Wendy, girl who walks with God.
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Stand!
Yesterday, as some of you already know, my lap top blacked out. Considering the fact that I am in college, taking my last two courses in order to achieve my bachelors degree in Biblical studies, losing my computer would be a big blow. Instead of letting that be my focus, I went old school ~ pen and paper. I outlined my thoughts for my one assignment; a 4 page paper answering a few question prompts over this week's required reading. I talked to complete strangers about my faith, my Lord, the message of grace, abundant living and hope. I even spoke about how being fully dressed, I knew what was truly going on and instead of freaking out and fighting my computer, I closed it and prayed that God take care of it. I did mention to Satan that one computer glitch would not stop me. I told him I'd do my work on my phone if I had to!
This is not the first time that a lap top black out has happened to me. When I was in the middle of writing my second book, Satan came after me like a crocodile. While I knew what I was hearing in my head was not coming from me and was indeed warfare, I was in a fight for my life! The oppression was so great. The fight was so fierce, I compared it to being in a full blown crocodile roll. Even fully armored, I was doing all I could to simply stand. A major piece of armor has to do with spending time with God; reading a little bit of his story, heading the warnings in his word and following his advice. In the end, my battle was broken with a combination of speaking out-loud about the battle I was in, by the grace of God an unexpected moment of hilarity followed by a connection to that mornings reading as I stood firm. Literally the moment my eyes took in the duplicated word, the first from my morning's reading of Scripture and secondly within the first 4 words of an opening paragraph from the chapter I was proofing, Satan vanished from my head. This is why your armor is so important!
The very next day though, he came at me again. My laptop that I loved was going on 4 years old and I knew that I needed to have a back up computer as I was in school back then as well. Not only did I need a laptop for school, I was also blogging almost daily and as I mentioned previously, I was working on the manuscript for Marriage, Motherhood and My Moral Meltdown. It was black Friday and I had grabbed a lap top at a great price. So here I was, two laptops one old and one new and in the same day, back to back, they both blacked out on me! As if that were not crazy enough, I had given the one to a friend of mine whose husband worked on laptops in hopes that he may be able to recover my manuscript. Stupidly, I had not saved a copy anywhere else outside of my documents. Crazy enough, he opened it up, turned it on and the darn thing came to life as if it had never hiccuped. Unlike this time where I closed the computer, prayed, walked away from it waiting a full day, I fought with that thing for a full hour before I went for the new one only to have it also go black screen on me. In the end, nothing was wrong with either one of them. Instead my friend's husband revamped my favorite laptop and it lasted another 4 years!
I say all this to bring to light that often with technical stuff, it is the enemy messing with you and as crazy as it may seem, a quick prayer to God, the creator of all, including man who is credited with the advancements of technology, truly does make all the difference in the world. When things don't work these days, you better believe this girl prays first and then I say okay LORD, I must not be meant to get this done today. Was there something you needed of me while my other stuff is on hold? He always has something fun planned.
Yesterday I talked to a mom of 13 children. A few of her kiddos are on the road with her. They get requests to sing at various events and even other churches. I also was able to listen to a woman talk about her life and her older son and we discussed prayer and free will. From there I chatted with another person about the journey of faith I had been on. My day was blessed in multiple ways.
I could have elected to get all freaked out about my laptop. Insisted it had to be fixed or replaced ASAP as my two papers are due by Sunday at midnight, but I didn't. I know that each day has its trouble and that day was not the day to deal with the computer when I could manage to complete things on paper for the moment. Trusting that God won't allow me to fail as long as I do my part, turn to him and keep doing the things I can do while they can be done and putting the rest off for another day is a joy all of its own. You only find rest like that when your faith is firmly planted in Jesus.
In the midst of all of this, I sang a song / wrote a poem. It will be added to the current manuscript I am working on; In the Midst of Spiritual Warfare. It's still in its rough draft format, but drop a line and let me know what you think! Until then, Stay Fully Dressed, Realized you are Blessed and be a blessing in the lives of others!







