A Spirit of Unity

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May the God

who gives endurance and encouragement

give you a spirit of unity among yourselves

as you follow Christ Jesus,

Roman 15:5

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A team functions fully when the members are of one mind.

This is especially true in marriages and church fellowships.

The best way to be unified is for each person to be following the Leader

and keeping his/her eyes focused on the Leader at all times.

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The Lord grants us endurance

to walk by faith each day

and fills our hearts with love

for each other along the way.

Wendy/2015

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I love my husband, family and church best by loving God with all my heart, mind, and soul first.

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Blessings as you follow Christ first and foremost ~ Wendy

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Can you think of another verse or quote that promotes unity in a family or other group setting?

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New Blog Announcement and Invitation

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Trust in the Lord’s power

to provide a way

for we’re at our strongest

when we kneel down to pray

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Wendy/2015

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My main blog has moved to http://www.wendylmacdonald.com

It’s a big scary step for me,

but my blog was running out of space,

and I know there’s so much more I’d like to do.

The new blog looks much like my old one,

and I’ve moved all my old posts over to it.

I’d love it if you came and checked it out.

Leave a comment so I know you were there and can visit you back.

Blessings ~ Wendy

The Conquering Prince

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Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

Romans 11:33

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The Conquering Prince

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The ancient Mystery

eternal – without start or end

Incomprehensible

a Triune of Love

our God – our Savior – our Friend

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The only Creator

who simply spoke to form the starry host

Unfathomable

a holy Trinity

the Father – the Son – the Holy Ghost

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The only Redeemer

whose shed blood our salvation has won

Propitiation

the spotless Lamb

Alpha – Omega – God’s only Son

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The conquering Prince

who shall return on lightning steed

Substitutionary

the risen One

who claims for bride – all who have believed.

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Wendy/2013

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As Christmas approaches,

 may we ponder, as Mary did,

on the things that we’ve been told

 about our Messiah and soon returning King.

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Happy Thanksgiving to my dear American  friends!

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Thanksgiving Blessings ~ Wendy

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I Call on You

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I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;

give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show the wonder of your great love,

you who save by your right hand

those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 17:6-8

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I Call on You

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When my heart beats

a rhythm of fear

I pray that your Spirit

would draw me near

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For your Love sings faith

 your touch gives hope

 leading me to help

so I may cope

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For to suffer alone

is no path to Light

I need call on You

in the dark of my night.

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Wendy/2013

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This week I am feeling thankful for a praying husband.

What are you thankful for?

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Apple of His Eye Blessings ~ Wendy

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Her Healing Faith

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She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Matthew 9:21

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Her Healing Faith

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For twelve long years – shunned

for a wound that would not heal

When the Word in flesh walked her way

what else, but hope, to feel?

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She did the unthinkable

 Untouchable she’d so long been

Her humble and trembling hand

 tentatively touched his hem – unseen

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He knew not only her hearts cry

plus years of tears in plea

but also each line and crease of her palm

 acquainted with her intimately

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While others denied it was them

who dared to touch his cloak

She fell trembling at his feet

 emboldened by healing she spoke

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Jesus needed no answer

for he knew before she’d tell

His desire was to give her blessing

upon her faith that made her well.

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Wendy/2013

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Have you ever experienced the healing hand of the Lord in a way that let you know it was definitely from him and definitely in response to your faith? Here is a link to a post where I shared about an answer to a personal prayer of my own twelve years in waiting…

Healing Blessings ~ Wendy

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Dear Healer of hearts and broken bones,

Help us to believe that You are able to do anything. May we come to You humbly and with faith that whatever the answer You give to our prayers is – it is enough. You are all that we need.

Amen

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Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Matthew 9:22

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A Mother’s Heart is Always on Shift

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Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:5-7

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A Mother’s Heart is Always on Shift

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She relieves weary limbs

that have carried them both

Resting

Awaiting the arrival of her new gift

She keeps a watchful eye

A mother’s heart is always on shift

Soon untried limbs emerge

Wobbly

But carrying their own weight

Yet the burden of care does not lift

from her life

A mother’s heart is always on shift

Grown into a yearling and shooed away

Naturally

The cycle of life continues

The doe’s belly swollen enough to split

She raises two – this time

A mother’s heart is always on shift

I wonder if she remembers

offspring

each speckled fawn now grown

raising a family of their own – adrift?

Does she carry them in her thoughts?

A mother’s heart is always on shift.

Wendy/2013

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I’ve watched several doe and their fawns during the years we lived in the woods. Special moments like a newborn barely able to stand and almost tumbling as mother cleaned the signs of birth from its fur are etched in my mind. My toddler son and I watched this special event from our old front porch.

Animals have been given instincts that often surpass those of some human parents; however, I don’t believe deer carry their offspring in their hearts for life – like we do. I suspect that only those made in the image of God have that capacity.

A parent’s heart is never off shift! I know that my Heavenly Father never sleeps.

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Thank you, Father, that you do not forsake me. Help me to have forgiveness and compassion upon those who did abandon me either physically or emotionally. You are all that I have ever needed. You are more than enough… xo

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Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Psalm 27:10

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Flickering Candles

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Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live… That they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of  God. 

Titus 2:3-5 

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Flickering Candles

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Mother – I am frightened

as the candles on my cake

steadily increase in number

with each one that you bake

Each flame flickers brightly

illuminating the finish line

waving me past childhood

as womanhood draws nigh

I sense the ushering in

and feel like Peter Pan

wanting to flee growing up

and dwell in Neverland

Where cakes are but treats

and candles simply lights

not milestones of aging years

that fill my heart with fright

Yet, Mother, I look at you

and see that you’ve made peace

graciously with aging life

in the way that you speak

Candlelight reflects prettily

on your silver strands of hair

midst youthful lingering browns

brought by gifts and earthly cares

The shadows in your wrinkles

can’t hide the love lines on your face

nor the joys ahead unspeakable

in my own coming of age.

Wendy/2013

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Many things have changed in our culture even from when I was just coming of age. Unlike Neverland, our children will grow older along with us.  They will reach adulthood and become our friends and not just our children.

However, some things remain constant.  God never changes.  He desires mothers to instruct their daughters to live godly lives.  Fathers tend to teach more through example to both sons and daughters.

Remembering that children learn more from what we do than from what we say is a sobering reminder of the awesome privilege and responsibility we have as parents.  But if we are loving God with all of our heart, soul,  strength, and mind – we will be leading them aright!

PS – I wrote this the morning after our daughter’s recent birthday. She had come upstairs the night before to express concern about getting closer to adulthood. We both comforted and reassured her that it was a good thing to be growing up. She is honored that I wrote a poem about her. We are honored to be her parents.

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Dear Unchanging One,

Help us in this ever-changing world to keep our focus on You.  May our children yield to and trust in You also.

Putting my hope in Christ,

an aging parent

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Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Titus 2: 6-8

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Ageless Blessings ~ Wendy

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The Sting

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My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19-20

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The Sting

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Oh, the sting of it!

Do remind me

to turn the other cheek

while crimson

rushes to my temples

that I’d be slow to speak

Slow down this hurried heart

that pounds war drums

urging me into battle

against another one

May I feel the slap

as a pinch

to remind me I’m alive

and that I need to react

with gentleness and respect

and love within my eyes

How often have I been

in need of such grace?

And so –

remind me that soon

the tables may turn

and put me

in their place.

Wendy/2013

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Several weeks ago I wrote this after having had my feelings hurt by the words of another.  It calmed me down and joy returned. Then I went on to write one of my best romantic poems: The Charmed Garden.

When I was face to face with my dear one again, I was greeted immediately with an apology and a kind smile.  Thanks to my submission to James 1:19-20…  I was ready to smile back.

Our home is laced with hormones these days.  Three teens and a mama (about to enter the change) reside here; however, so does the Holy Spirit!

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Dear Father,

I love how You transform me and help me through all the stages of life. You have blessed me abundantly. You are so good!

Love your daughter

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Righteous Life Blessings ~ Wendy

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A Fool’s Folly

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

  “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘

Luke 12:15-19

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A Fool’s Folly

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Life is agreeable

he mused to himself

I’ll build colossal coffers

in which to store my wealth

And once they are built

I’ll enjoy secure repose

as my stash remains safe

and its value grows and grows

A bankrupt vagabond – his plans

he soon shall see

for his treasures are but trinkets

compared to what they ought to be

His death came soon and sudden

just as his stockpile was concealed

And he stood before the Judge

with his empty heart revealed!

Wendy/2013

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It is tempting, for those of us who do not think we are wealthy, to any degree, to dismiss this parable as having any pertinence to our lives; after all, we don’t have the luxury of taking it easy and being merry for long stretches of time.

But wait a minute – are we really as poor as we think we are?  I guess if we don’t compare our income and lifestyle to much of the rest of the planet, we might have an excuse to dismiss this text.

But I dare say that our generosity can be displayed through other means besides just monetary… time comes to mind.  Is my time his or do I hoard it for my closet full of hobbies?

I don’t need to earn my way to heaven; however, if I really believe I’m heading there, am I living like I believe it?

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“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12: 20-21

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Dear Lord,

You know about my heart and my income.  All that I have and am is an open book that I ask, humbly, for You to edit according to your will. May my treasures be in heaven and may I learn more and more to be generous towards You. For your generosity poured over me can never be out given.  Amen.

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Heavenly Blessings ~ Wendy

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Melancholy Moments

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

Romans 5:1-5

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Melancholy Moments

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Melancholy moments

have their veins of gold

as do memories

marbled with grief

Good can come

from each circumstance

I’m told –

if we will…

but believe

For it’s our attitude

that blesses or burns

and gives them worth

I’m learning

to mine for treasures

and be thankful

for things could have been worse

Using faith to pick at rocks

and with His Power

I’ve found

I can pan for gold within the pain

swishing it

in Living Water

round and round

Focusing on eternal gems

casting aside

marred and broken thoughts

and slipping sparkling

words of wisdom

into my leather pouch

of all

that He has taught.

Wendy/2013

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The passage of time seasoned with His grace can turn anything life dishes out into something savory.

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In the low lying areas of life’s journey treasures can be found.  I love the mountaintops – but we can’t stay there all the time… at least not on this side of Heaven.

In the valley I become acutely aware of my lack and my need.  The personal growth of faith and spiritual maturity takes place here on the bottom.  And  you know what they say about being here: The only thing left to do is to look up.

When I am on higher ground and feeling confident in myself rather than confident in what He is doing in me, and through me, then I am dragged to the bottom in a landslide of suffering (pride before a fall).

Suddenly everything in my environment seems uprooted and unstable.  Any idols I had foolishly clung to show their real substance – fluff!

Some landslides come simply just because… and not self-induced.  Stuff happens on this planet. But our hope in Christ, and his word, can cause us to soar sooner than the world would have expected us to – and that glorifies God!

 It reveals his strength and majesty while we are slowly being conformed into his likeness, and our faith is refined into something of far more worth than anything we might mine for…

Character Building Blessings ~ Wendy

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In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1: 6-7 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:18 & 28

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