Temporarily
Imagine if you will (if you can remember Rod Sterling's voice at the opening of the Twilight Zone.. you're old... but that's okay)... cause it will help set the scene...
... having to work with a constant hammer all around you, with the sound of heavy machinery moving forward and back - the incessant bleating of their back-up alarms...
and you'd be here at New Hope this morning.
We're no strangers to noise here, as the Armed Services provide jet and helicopter noise by the ton and we even have days when explosions as bombs are tested rock the homes around here. But all morning the noise has been hard to bear.
Across the street, they are building a child care center. From what I am told, it will be a wonderful place for kids, with many advantages for them. So I guess I'll just have to endure the noise for a little while. It's only temporary.
In our readings for the 40 Days of Purpose, we come to Day 6 today - LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT.
It struck me as I sat here and shook, that so much of the "noise" we worry, fret, gripe and complain over is temporary too. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the problems you have aren't real, but if they aren't about your eternal destiny, or that of another - they are temporary. And they will be vanquished.
Rev. 21:3-4 (Msg)
I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. [4] He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone."
Can you imagine?
Death - gone!
Tears - of want, of worry, of fear - Gone!
Pain - from loneliness, from heartache, from lack, from physical ailments
GONE! Just as Jesus said they would be.
John 16:33 (Msg)
In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
One day we'll see those troubles disappear, and our lives become what we've always dreamed of. Until then, practice following Jesus, and don't get to attached to this world, or too aggravated by the "noise." We are only here temporarily.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Friday, April 30, 2004
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Standing Out
Do you have a "life verse"? Maybe some explanation is in order. A "Life verse" would be that snippet of Scripture that might speak to you about God's care, or frame your life. In the latter, you could even use it to say, "this is who I am", like an email signature could do.
Over the years I've been able to hear many people recite their life verses to me, and I enjoy learning about how God uses His Word with different people.
Last night, we watched a video produced by the Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com) that let people hear and see from those who have suffered for their faith - their continuing and steadfast faith - in Jesus Christ. All sorts of questions rushed to me - "How could anyone do that to another?" "How could anyone endure...?"
And into my head popped a passage of Scripture that talks about people like that:
Hebrews 11:13-16 (Msg)
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing.
How did they do it?
They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.
People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home... But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country.
You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
In a world where life is cheap, they raise the value of it - by living it not for today, or tomorrow, but for eternity. In the days when the book of Hebrews was written, the days before, and the days after, people who understand that this earth is not our home stand out.
How? They make their choices on what they value in light of what really is lasting.
Where do you stand on that?
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Do you have a "life verse"? Maybe some explanation is in order. A "Life verse" would be that snippet of Scripture that might speak to you about God's care, or frame your life. In the latter, you could even use it to say, "this is who I am", like an email signature could do.
Over the years I've been able to hear many people recite their life verses to me, and I enjoy learning about how God uses His Word with different people.
Last night, we watched a video produced by the Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com) that let people hear and see from those who have suffered for their faith - their continuing and steadfast faith - in Jesus Christ. All sorts of questions rushed to me - "How could anyone do that to another?" "How could anyone endure...?"
And into my head popped a passage of Scripture that talks about people like that:
Hebrews 11:13-16 (Msg)
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing.
How did they do it?
They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.
People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home... But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country.
You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
In a world where life is cheap, they raise the value of it - by living it not for today, or tomorrow, but for eternity. In the days when the book of Hebrews was written, the days before, and the days after, people who understand that this earth is not our home stand out.
How? They make their choices on what they value in light of what really is lasting.
Where do you stand on that?
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Living Among the Immortals
There are no ordinary people.
You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.
This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously--no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.
And our love must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners--no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. (quote from The Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis)
Do you ever think about that?
That the person alongside you at the ballgame, or in front of you in the checkout line - is immortal - will live forever?
"God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart..." Eccl. 3:11 NLT
So can we afford to ignore that fact? That person who you cannot stand to be around, and take great pains to avoid, either will be with you in heaven forever or apart from everything good, away from God's presence, and forever paying for their sins?
No wonder Lewis wrote that our love must be "real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners."
Real and costly...
That's exactly the kind of love Jesus showed us.
Some people are trapped in their sins. It's up to us to rescue them before this life is over. Take a risk. Make a difference for eternity.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
There are no ordinary people.
You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations--these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit--immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.
This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously--no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.
And our love must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners--no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. (quote from The Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis)
Do you ever think about that?
That the person alongside you at the ballgame, or in front of you in the checkout line - is immortal - will live forever?
"God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart..." Eccl. 3:11 NLT
So can we afford to ignore that fact? That person who you cannot stand to be around, and take great pains to avoid, either will be with you in heaven forever or apart from everything good, away from God's presence, and forever paying for their sins?
No wonder Lewis wrote that our love must be "real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners."
Real and costly...
That's exactly the kind of love Jesus showed us.
Some people are trapped in their sins. It's up to us to rescue them before this life is over. Take a risk. Make a difference for eternity.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
What Drives You?
We're three days into our 40 Days of Purpose here at New Hope, and today's selection in "The Purpose Driven Life" deals with what drives a person's life.
A young seminary student was sent to do a summer project in rural Pennsylvania. The idea was to get some understanding of the people who lived there, and so the pollster designed a questionnaire that included such queries as "What is your favorite TV show?", "How much did you spend at the mall last year?", and then the spiritual question, "Are you a Christian?"
Arriving at the door, the student asked the man who greeted him if he could ask some questions. "Certainly," said his host. So he asked "What's your favorite TV show?" In reply, the man said, "we do not own a TV." In answer to the second question, he answered, "nothing, we don't go to the mall." Then he realized that the man was Amish.
So he was about to write the whole visit off, but he asked the last question. In response, the man went and got a pad, and proceeded to write the names of all his neighbors and directions to their homes. When he finished, he handed it to the young man.
"I asked you if you are a Christian", the young man said, "What's this?"
"Your answer. But ask them if I am."
When I was processing the question, "What drives your life?", I wondered if a lot of times people are too close to it to really be objective. For example a man might work 100 hours a week and tell you "I'm doing this for my family." In most cases, he's doing it for greed.
What if you asked those who know you best, "What do you think it is that drives me?"
Would you be happy with their answers?
The Bible tells us that
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Make sure your relationship with God is at the core of who you are, and He'll give you direction and peace.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
We're three days into our 40 Days of Purpose here at New Hope, and today's selection in "The Purpose Driven Life" deals with what drives a person's life.
A young seminary student was sent to do a summer project in rural Pennsylvania. The idea was to get some understanding of the people who lived there, and so the pollster designed a questionnaire that included such queries as "What is your favorite TV show?", "How much did you spend at the mall last year?", and then the spiritual question, "Are you a Christian?"
Arriving at the door, the student asked the man who greeted him if he could ask some questions. "Certainly," said his host. So he asked "What's your favorite TV show?" In reply, the man said, "we do not own a TV." In answer to the second question, he answered, "nothing, we don't go to the mall." Then he realized that the man was Amish.
So he was about to write the whole visit off, but he asked the last question. In response, the man went and got a pad, and proceeded to write the names of all his neighbors and directions to their homes. When he finished, he handed it to the young man.
"I asked you if you are a Christian", the young man said, "What's this?"
"Your answer. But ask them if I am."
When I was processing the question, "What drives your life?", I wondered if a lot of times people are too close to it to really be objective. For example a man might work 100 hours a week and tell you "I'm doing this for my family." In most cases, he's doing it for greed.
What if you asked those who know you best, "What do you think it is that drives me?"
Would you be happy with their answers?
The Bible tells us that
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Make sure your relationship with God is at the core of who you are, and He'll give you direction and peace.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Absence and the Heart
Psalm 34:18 (Msg)
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath.
It's been two years today.
And right now my mind is flooded with might have beens. So many things are obvious blessings in my life - my wife, my boys, what God has called me to do, that I can get busy, and some of the hurt goes away. But today it's two years, and all I can think of is what we've missed - of what is absent that we had hoped would be here.
She would have had her father's eyes.
There were times when he was a little boy that we'd go off alone - to the store, to the Krystal, to Grandmother's, that I could look over in the seat next to me and see him looking at me. He'd ask questions, I'd try to answer, and the openness - the trust - the love in those eyes just melted me.
Yep. She would have had her father's eyes.
Her smile would have lit up a room, just like her mother's does. There are a lot of ways to measure people. My own personal preference is to look at their impact on others. Some people enter a room and suck all the joy out of it. When they smile it just doesn't look right, like cow horns on a Mercedes. They put it on to try to give the right response, but it isn't who they are.
Her mother is tiny. But when she smiles - she's huge.
I can see tiny feet beating the earth, little white tennis shoes slapping it as they come, bearing a smile so brilliant it warms this cold earth. She grins from ear to ear, and all you feel is joy.
She'd have her mother's smile.
By now, we'd have covered all the important things. Who loves you best, why Grandaddy's hair is gray, the funniest cartoons, how to eat Krystals and Nuways, and how come Grandmother hugs so hard. We'd have begun noticing new words, and she'd almost be reading. She'd have impacted my wallet and stolen my heart. Again.
Heart. She'd have had her grandmother's.
I have known literally thousands of people over 50 years. Some were self-contained, others - self-absorbed. A few seemed to enjoy this life, and others endured it. Many were bright, even brilliant. Others caught the eye, or in some other way made it through the clutter of a life's experiences to my heart.
But none have loved me like Bunny has. For no one I've ever known loves that deeply.
Two years ago, as we rolled up calendars toward April 29th, the expected day of joy, our home was filled with baby clothing, baby toys, baby... stuff. People around us shared in that and we added our own items. I remember visiting Target with Bunny and hearing her say a dozen times, "won't that look so pretty on Ana?" The only girl in a string of boys, the only girl in her own home full of men - young and older - the possibility to hold, to love, to care, to dress!!! a baby girl was excitement personified.
And when the days stopped for Ana, her Grandmother didn't stop loving. She found a way to love beyond the pain in helping her daughter-in-love deliver her baby. As I watched Bunny hold that small and delicate baby in her arms, weeping and talking to her as if she could hear... it was the greatest expression of love I've ever seen - through the deepest heartache.
She'd have had her Grandmother's heart.
For me, I don't know what I could have given her. It certainly wouldn't be material things, and her mom and dad would certainly taught her the A, B, C's and enlightened her on them 'Dawgs and Georgia politics.
So I guess she'd have had my prayers each day from infancy to adulthood, my lap to sit in, my knees to ride, and later my shoulder to cry on and my ears to hear.
It's been two years today. Two long years. Her absence hurts our hearts. But one day...
We will see her.
And that thrills my heart.
Grace, mercy, and peace,
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Psalm 34:18 (Msg)
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath.
It's been two years today.
And right now my mind is flooded with might have beens. So many things are obvious blessings in my life - my wife, my boys, what God has called me to do, that I can get busy, and some of the hurt goes away. But today it's two years, and all I can think of is what we've missed - of what is absent that we had hoped would be here.
She would have had her father's eyes.
There were times when he was a little boy that we'd go off alone - to the store, to the Krystal, to Grandmother's, that I could look over in the seat next to me and see him looking at me. He'd ask questions, I'd try to answer, and the openness - the trust - the love in those eyes just melted me.
Yep. She would have had her father's eyes.
Her smile would have lit up a room, just like her mother's does. There are a lot of ways to measure people. My own personal preference is to look at their impact on others. Some people enter a room and suck all the joy out of it. When they smile it just doesn't look right, like cow horns on a Mercedes. They put it on to try to give the right response, but it isn't who they are.
Her mother is tiny. But when she smiles - she's huge.
I can see tiny feet beating the earth, little white tennis shoes slapping it as they come, bearing a smile so brilliant it warms this cold earth. She grins from ear to ear, and all you feel is joy.
She'd have her mother's smile.
By now, we'd have covered all the important things. Who loves you best, why Grandaddy's hair is gray, the funniest cartoons, how to eat Krystals and Nuways, and how come Grandmother hugs so hard. We'd have begun noticing new words, and she'd almost be reading. She'd have impacted my wallet and stolen my heart. Again.
Heart. She'd have had her grandmother's.
I have known literally thousands of people over 50 years. Some were self-contained, others - self-absorbed. A few seemed to enjoy this life, and others endured it. Many were bright, even brilliant. Others caught the eye, or in some other way made it through the clutter of a life's experiences to my heart.
But none have loved me like Bunny has. For no one I've ever known loves that deeply.
Two years ago, as we rolled up calendars toward April 29th, the expected day of joy, our home was filled with baby clothing, baby toys, baby... stuff. People around us shared in that and we added our own items. I remember visiting Target with Bunny and hearing her say a dozen times, "won't that look so pretty on Ana?" The only girl in a string of boys, the only girl in her own home full of men - young and older - the possibility to hold, to love, to care, to dress!!! a baby girl was excitement personified.
And when the days stopped for Ana, her Grandmother didn't stop loving. She found a way to love beyond the pain in helping her daughter-in-love deliver her baby. As I watched Bunny hold that small and delicate baby in her arms, weeping and talking to her as if she could hear... it was the greatest expression of love I've ever seen - through the deepest heartache.
She'd have had her Grandmother's heart.
For me, I don't know what I could have given her. It certainly wouldn't be material things, and her mom and dad would certainly taught her the A, B, C's and enlightened her on them 'Dawgs and Georgia politics.
So I guess she'd have had my prayers each day from infancy to adulthood, my lap to sit in, my knees to ride, and later my shoulder to cry on and my ears to hear.
It's been two years today. Two long years. Her absence hurts our hearts. But one day...
We will see her.
And that thrills my heart.
Grace, mercy, and peace,
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Certainties
We're preparing for our study of the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the next 40 days here at New Hope, and in my reading I came across this quote from Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman.
I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything, and many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here, and what the question might mean. I might think about it a little bit, but if I can't figure it out, then I go on to something else. But I don't have to know an answer... I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell, possibly. It doesn't frighten me.
A brilliant man who when faced with the question of "What On Earth Am I Here For" reacted as the woman in Kansas had a few years back when she went out on the front porch, saw a tornado coming dead for her. She went back inside, closed the door and locked it.
Who was she fooling? She wasn't secure. Who was Feynman fooling? He was frightened.
Friends, here's the great certainty. Write it down. Impress it upon your children.
It's not about you.
Col. 1:16 (Msg)
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible...
— everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.
It's about God.
Until you grapple with God, you'll never really grip life.
Until your life is in His hands - it will never be secure.
Until you know God, though you may be brilliant in all matter of earthly things, you'll never have true understanding.
It's not about you. It's about Him. And I've got great news.
It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open. Acts 10:35 (Msg)
That is up to you. Unending love awaits if you'll walk through that door.
Of that I am certain.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
We're preparing for our study of the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the next 40 days here at New Hope, and in my reading I came across this quote from Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman.
I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything, and many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here, and what the question might mean. I might think about it a little bit, but if I can't figure it out, then I go on to something else. But I don't have to know an answer... I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in the mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell, possibly. It doesn't frighten me.
A brilliant man who when faced with the question of "What On Earth Am I Here For" reacted as the woman in Kansas had a few years back when she went out on the front porch, saw a tornado coming dead for her. She went back inside, closed the door and locked it.
Who was she fooling? She wasn't secure. Who was Feynman fooling? He was frightened.
Friends, here's the great certainty. Write it down. Impress it upon your children.
It's not about you.
Col. 1:16 (Msg)
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible...
— everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.
It's about God.
Until you grapple with God, you'll never really grip life.
Until your life is in His hands - it will never be secure.
Until you know God, though you may be brilliant in all matter of earthly things, you'll never have true understanding.
It's not about you. It's about Him. And I've got great news.
It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as He says, the door is open. Acts 10:35 (Msg)
That is up to you. Unending love awaits if you'll walk through that door.
Of that I am certain.
Grace!
David
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Knowing and Loving
Carol Stoy came by my office yesterday with a watering can in one hand and a flower flat in the other. Carol is a lover of plants. When we were talking about the church's grounds, her own home, and other yards and gardens here, her eyes sparkled and it was so obvious to me that she not only knew a lot about plants - but she loved them.
My son Sean and I were talking guitars the other night while we were in our computer room at home. He was just sitting on the floor playing my old acoustic in a way its owner never could. I asked him about a particular type of guitar, and his voice lifted as he told me about the differences in the shapes of the necks, the pickups, and even the wood the guitar was made of. Pretty obvious he's got encyclopedic knowledge of guitars - and loves them.
Since I hang around churches a lot, pretty frequently I bump into people who really know the Bible. In conversation, they will bring up certain issues that fascinate them, and drop tons of references as to why this point couldn't be this way, or how this issue has to turn out that way. They get excited over their love for the Bible.
But sometimes..
Unlike Carol, whose love of plants and knowledge of them translates into care for them. And unlike Sean whose love of guitars and knowledge of them is shown by the music he plays with them.
Sometimes those who know the most about the Bible, live it the least.
How can that happen?
Because it's not about what - it's about Who. The Bible - the Word - is living.
In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make.
4 Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone.
John 1:2-4 (NLT)
If you love the Bible, know the Bible, but never translate it through your life into love for God - wholehearted, give Him everything love - and love for people - light for everyone...
Then you missed the point. It's not about what. It's always about Who.
Oh, and it's never about you.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Carol Stoy came by my office yesterday with a watering can in one hand and a flower flat in the other. Carol is a lover of plants. When we were talking about the church's grounds, her own home, and other yards and gardens here, her eyes sparkled and it was so obvious to me that she not only knew a lot about plants - but she loved them.
My son Sean and I were talking guitars the other night while we were in our computer room at home. He was just sitting on the floor playing my old acoustic in a way its owner never could. I asked him about a particular type of guitar, and his voice lifted as he told me about the differences in the shapes of the necks, the pickups, and even the wood the guitar was made of. Pretty obvious he's got encyclopedic knowledge of guitars - and loves them.
Since I hang around churches a lot, pretty frequently I bump into people who really know the Bible. In conversation, they will bring up certain issues that fascinate them, and drop tons of references as to why this point couldn't be this way, or how this issue has to turn out that way. They get excited over their love for the Bible.
But sometimes..
Unlike Carol, whose love of plants and knowledge of them translates into care for them. And unlike Sean whose love of guitars and knowledge of them is shown by the music he plays with them.
Sometimes those who know the most about the Bible, live it the least.
How can that happen?
Because it's not about what - it's about Who. The Bible - the Word - is living.
In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make.
4 Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone.
John 1:2-4 (NLT)
If you love the Bible, know the Bible, but never translate it through your life into love for God - wholehearted, give Him everything love - and love for people - light for everyone...
Then you missed the point. It's not about what. It's always about Who.
Oh, and it's never about you.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
A Handful of Feathers and a Heartful of Hope
1 Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are His dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. Eph 5:1-2 (NLT)
Last week I wrote about the efforts of a group of mockingbirds to save one of their own. The next day when I came to church, I was still smiling over how good had triumphed. Then I saw them. in the corner of our walkway, I saw a handful of feathers streaked with blood. They weren't full size. My heart sank when I realized that clearly, one of the fledglings didn't make it.
It bothered me. Maybe it shouldn't have, but it did.
Oh I know that's the way the world works. I'm not so naive as to believe that the Italian Sausage I ate with my spaghetti tonight was picked off a bush. Animals die, some as a result of other creature's needs.
But I thought I had made a difference, and it didn't seem like I had.
Sunday though, one of our members did. Seeing another fledgling in trouble, lying on its side on the concrete outside our buildings, she scooped it up and took it to an emergency vet. After an unfortunate incident with another patient (a cat), I can report that at least one of the fledglings will make it to adulthood.
Friends, that made me smile. If enough people do enough acts of simple kindness, we can change things. Yes, this world is tough - hard - cruel. But hearing about how the Edwards family saved that little bird replaced the image of a handful of feathers with a heart full of hope. They made a difference.
You may be wondering right now if you've done anything right. People you've poured your life out for just haven't turned out as well as you've hoped. You tried, and failure seems to be staring back at you like a handful of feathers.
Well friend, I am here to tell you that no act of kindness is ever wasted - regardless of whether the person you give it to returns it in kind. If Christ had not had the attitude of loving sacrifice for the undeserving, and the potentially rejecting people we are - where would we be?
But He did love the unlovely, even knowing many would fail to love Him back. And for me, He's made all the difference in this world - and the next. :) That gives me a heartful of hope. And a reason to keep trying to help as many as I can.
Make a difference! Follow Christ's example and live a life of love.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
1 Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are His dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. Eph 5:1-2 (NLT)
Last week I wrote about the efforts of a group of mockingbirds to save one of their own. The next day when I came to church, I was still smiling over how good had triumphed. Then I saw them. in the corner of our walkway, I saw a handful of feathers streaked with blood. They weren't full size. My heart sank when I realized that clearly, one of the fledglings didn't make it.
It bothered me. Maybe it shouldn't have, but it did.
Oh I know that's the way the world works. I'm not so naive as to believe that the Italian Sausage I ate with my spaghetti tonight was picked off a bush. Animals die, some as a result of other creature's needs.
But I thought I had made a difference, and it didn't seem like I had.
Sunday though, one of our members did. Seeing another fledgling in trouble, lying on its side on the concrete outside our buildings, she scooped it up and took it to an emergency vet. After an unfortunate incident with another patient (a cat), I can report that at least one of the fledglings will make it to adulthood.
Friends, that made me smile. If enough people do enough acts of simple kindness, we can change things. Yes, this world is tough - hard - cruel. But hearing about how the Edwards family saved that little bird replaced the image of a handful of feathers with a heart full of hope. They made a difference.
You may be wondering right now if you've done anything right. People you've poured your life out for just haven't turned out as well as you've hoped. You tried, and failure seems to be staring back at you like a handful of feathers.
Well friend, I am here to tell you that no act of kindness is ever wasted - regardless of whether the person you give it to returns it in kind. If Christ had not had the attitude of loving sacrifice for the undeserving, and the potentially rejecting people we are - where would we be?
But He did love the unlovely, even knowing many would fail to love Him back. And for me, He's made all the difference in this world - and the next. :) That gives me a heartful of hope. And a reason to keep trying to help as many as I can.
Make a difference! Follow Christ's example and live a life of love.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
To Kill A Mockingbird
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (NIV)
Today when I came to church I had a visitor. A fledgling mockingbird was just outside my door. Possessing all the parts needed for full mockingbird status, he is still too young to fly, so he was hopping around in the yard outside.
Later this morning, I got to thinking about his eating prospects and laid down some birdseed for him. Didn't think any more about it, until a minute ago when I looked up and saw him out front, being assaulted by a crow easily four times his size.
I jumped up and prepared to take care of the crow, but suddenly mockingbirds appeared - from everywhere. They began flying at the crow - wave upon wave of them until he flew off with some of them still in pursuit - pecking at his feathers. I must have seen ten almost instantly appear.
Others took up position around the fledgling, casting a wary eye on me. I'm praying the little guy makes it off the ground soon. But if he does, it will be as a direct result of his fellow's actions on his behalf.
You know we're not any different in that way.
What we are - what we become - is so often a result of what others have done and continue to do for us. The love they show throughout, helps us grow until we can make it on our own, and when we fall, that same love helps us recover.
Those mockingbirds were willing to be hurt, to be injured, even to die in order to save one who needed help. They might have failed, but they were going to make it hard to kill a mockingbird.
When people act with the same Christ-like love toward others, we may not see everyone come to faith in Jesus, but we've done everything we can do.
My question today is - When is the last time you laid your life down for another?
When a group of people do that - it's called a church.
And it helps everyone in it find a place of security, of peace, and room to spread their wings and fly within God's purpose for their lives.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (NIV)
Today when I came to church I had a visitor. A fledgling mockingbird was just outside my door. Possessing all the parts needed for full mockingbird status, he is still too young to fly, so he was hopping around in the yard outside.
Later this morning, I got to thinking about his eating prospects and laid down some birdseed for him. Didn't think any more about it, until a minute ago when I looked up and saw him out front, being assaulted by a crow easily four times his size.
I jumped up and prepared to take care of the crow, but suddenly mockingbirds appeared - from everywhere. They began flying at the crow - wave upon wave of them until he flew off with some of them still in pursuit - pecking at his feathers. I must have seen ten almost instantly appear.
Others took up position around the fledgling, casting a wary eye on me. I'm praying the little guy makes it off the ground soon. But if he does, it will be as a direct result of his fellow's actions on his behalf.
You know we're not any different in that way.
What we are - what we become - is so often a result of what others have done and continue to do for us. The love they show throughout, helps us grow until we can make it on our own, and when we fall, that same love helps us recover.
Those mockingbirds were willing to be hurt, to be injured, even to die in order to save one who needed help. They might have failed, but they were going to make it hard to kill a mockingbird.
When people act with the same Christ-like love toward others, we may not see everyone come to faith in Jesus, but we've done everything we can do.
My question today is - When is the last time you laid your life down for another?
When a group of people do that - it's called a church.
And it helps everyone in it find a place of security, of peace, and room to spread their wings and fly within God's purpose for their lives.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
The Journey
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Prov 16:9 (NLT)
A young boy headed out to tryouts for his school play. It was the first time he'd ever stretched his fragile self-confidence so far, and his Mother was a little worried about how he'd handle it if he didn't get the part he wanted. When he came home all smiles, she was surprised to hear that the tryout didn't reward him with his dream part, yet he wasn't upset at all, just the opposite.
"What happened, son? I thought you'd be upset that you didn't get the part you wanted."
"I was for a minute Mom. But then they told me I was chosen to clap and cheer."
Grabbing a coke off the counter, he ran outside to play.
Mom just smiled.
Imagine growing up with a dream - a passionate desire that occupies almost every moment of free time. It could be a sport, like baseball, basketball, or soccer. Or it could be an activity like flying or acting. Then think about what you'd do (or what you did) when that dream died.
Growing up, I had two great passions - baseball, and airplanes. When I wasn't outside playing baseball, I was inside reading about airplanes, putting together models, and dreaming about flying.
As I grew, and the years went by, reality interfered with my dreams. By the spring of my 10th grade of high school, my name on a list left tacked to a cork bulletin board after practice meant I'd never be a major leaguer. And by the end of the 11th grade, my eyesight, and a letter from the Air Force Academy, told me I'd never become a fighter pilot.
But life is lived forward, isn't it. My plans didn't work out quite the way I thought they would. So many other joys, so many other dreams that have been fulfilled make it hard to even feel sad about the earlier ones that were ended. And God has His ways of making it up.
Now I'm a pastor of a church.
Every day, I see not just airplanes but fighters. Just two weeks ago, I got to see the Thunderbirds perform four times in one week, since our church is right under the flight path. And I get to know pilots. One of my friends flew F-16's, another I know flew F-4's. I see an average of 30-40 planes a day, and rarely does a day go by when I don't give one a thumbs up.
From where I sit, I'm across from a Little League field. So I see a lot of baseball. Even wander over to give the 9-10 year old kids support every now and then.
So I guess I was chosen to clap and cheer.
Friend maybe where you are, you're feeling a little depressed about what you haven't been able to accomplish that you thought you would. But take a minute and think about all those blessings that have been yours, some of which would have never happened if you'd had your way.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to thank God today for where He's led me, and look forward to where we are headed tomorrow. Another day on the Journey.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Prov 16:9 (NLT)
A young boy headed out to tryouts for his school play. It was the first time he'd ever stretched his fragile self-confidence so far, and his Mother was a little worried about how he'd handle it if he didn't get the part he wanted. When he came home all smiles, she was surprised to hear that the tryout didn't reward him with his dream part, yet he wasn't upset at all, just the opposite.
"What happened, son? I thought you'd be upset that you didn't get the part you wanted."
"I was for a minute Mom. But then they told me I was chosen to clap and cheer."
Grabbing a coke off the counter, he ran outside to play.
Mom just smiled.
Imagine growing up with a dream - a passionate desire that occupies almost every moment of free time. It could be a sport, like baseball, basketball, or soccer. Or it could be an activity like flying or acting. Then think about what you'd do (or what you did) when that dream died.
Growing up, I had two great passions - baseball, and airplanes. When I wasn't outside playing baseball, I was inside reading about airplanes, putting together models, and dreaming about flying.
As I grew, and the years went by, reality interfered with my dreams. By the spring of my 10th grade of high school, my name on a list left tacked to a cork bulletin board after practice meant I'd never be a major leaguer. And by the end of the 11th grade, my eyesight, and a letter from the Air Force Academy, told me I'd never become a fighter pilot.
But life is lived forward, isn't it. My plans didn't work out quite the way I thought they would. So many other joys, so many other dreams that have been fulfilled make it hard to even feel sad about the earlier ones that were ended. And God has His ways of making it up.
Now I'm a pastor of a church.
Every day, I see not just airplanes but fighters. Just two weeks ago, I got to see the Thunderbirds perform four times in one week, since our church is right under the flight path. And I get to know pilots. One of my friends flew F-16's, another I know flew F-4's. I see an average of 30-40 planes a day, and rarely does a day go by when I don't give one a thumbs up.
From where I sit, I'm across from a Little League field. So I see a lot of baseball. Even wander over to give the 9-10 year old kids support every now and then.
So I guess I was chosen to clap and cheer.
Friend maybe where you are, you're feeling a little depressed about what you haven't been able to accomplish that you thought you would. But take a minute and think about all those blessings that have been yours, some of which would have never happened if you'd had your way.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to thank God today for where He's led me, and look forward to where we are headed tomorrow. Another day on the Journey.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Bring Your Crash Helmet !
I can remember bits and pieces of childhood. Great times with family, different toys that I loved, pets I grew up with, and times of terror.
That's right - terror.
You see the child's world and their understanding of it is full of holes. There's so much that they do not know, imagination has to fill in the blanks. So you get monsters under the bed, fixations about flying monkeys (okay, maybe that was just me), and all manner of fears.
But you know, I never feared God.
God, in the person of His Son Jesus, loved me. I knew that because the people who I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt loved me - told me so. We sang "Jesus loves the little children" with all our hearts in Bible School, because He did. When we sang, we were sitting under pictures of Jesus with children in His lap and hanging all over Him. Most adults I knew would freak out if that many kids were that close, so I figured Jesus must be real special.
Later, I realized just how special He is. He is God! All powerful God!
None of us can put a box around just how powerful God is, really.
Annie Dillard writes, "Does anyone have the foggiest idea of what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews."
It sounds dangerous.
And yet... there is Jesus. Is He dangerous?
Well, in a way, yes. Friday we'll stop and remember His death by the hands of people who were so afraid of His power to change people's hearts they had Him crucified.
Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn't admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.
43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
John 12:42-43 (NLT)
Something changed in a lot of my friends growing up, maybe in yours too. Growing up in church, believing in Jesus and loving Him as children, even trusting Him as Savior and Lord, but later - in their teens or young adulthood, they drift away. Why?
Because getting too close to Jesus can be dangerous. He'll change your life.
Jesus is in the life-changing business, and if you don't want your life changed - if you still want control of your life - don't get too close. As a child, you loved Him without reservations. He loved you the same way.
He still does. Do you?
Do this - take a vacation from running your life. Come to a Good Friday service somewhere and see how much God thinks you are worth. (Hint: John 3:16)
Then come to church Easter Sunday seeking to get as close to God in worship as you can. Oh and get ready for earth-shaking news. In fact, better bring your crash helmet!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
I can remember bits and pieces of childhood. Great times with family, different toys that I loved, pets I grew up with, and times of terror.
That's right - terror.
You see the child's world and their understanding of it is full of holes. There's so much that they do not know, imagination has to fill in the blanks. So you get monsters under the bed, fixations about flying monkeys (okay, maybe that was just me), and all manner of fears.
But you know, I never feared God.
God, in the person of His Son Jesus, loved me. I knew that because the people who I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt loved me - told me so. We sang "Jesus loves the little children" with all our hearts in Bible School, because He did. When we sang, we were sitting under pictures of Jesus with children in His lap and hanging all over Him. Most adults I knew would freak out if that many kids were that close, so I figured Jesus must be real special.
Later, I realized just how special He is. He is God! All powerful God!
None of us can put a box around just how powerful God is, really.
Annie Dillard writes, "Does anyone have the foggiest idea of what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews."
It sounds dangerous.
And yet... there is Jesus. Is He dangerous?
Well, in a way, yes. Friday we'll stop and remember His death by the hands of people who were so afraid of His power to change people's hearts they had Him crucified.
Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn't admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.
43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
John 12:42-43 (NLT)
Something changed in a lot of my friends growing up, maybe in yours too. Growing up in church, believing in Jesus and loving Him as children, even trusting Him as Savior and Lord, but later - in their teens or young adulthood, they drift away. Why?
Because getting too close to Jesus can be dangerous. He'll change your life.
Jesus is in the life-changing business, and if you don't want your life changed - if you still want control of your life - don't get too close. As a child, you loved Him without reservations. He loved you the same way.
He still does. Do you?
Do this - take a vacation from running your life. Come to a Good Friday service somewhere and see how much God thinks you are worth. (Hint: John 3:16)
Then come to church Easter Sunday seeking to get as close to God in worship as you can. Oh and get ready for earth-shaking news. In fact, better bring your crash helmet!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
I Want To
How many prayers? How many times had he begged God to heal him? Add to that the prayers of his family and friends who saw a man lose it all, through no fault of his own. It was a disease - leprosy - that changed everything.
He had lost the companionship of his wife and children, as he had to be shut out of the village and to live among others like him.
He could no longer choose what to wear, being required to wear the lepers black, torn clothing.
He could no longer look people in the eye, having to cover his face and call out "Leper, Unclean" upon a chance meeting and even then he might be stoned.
And bit by bit, day by day, he was losing his ability to function - to live. That loss brought with it two new companions that seemed to never leave - fear and hopelessness.
But he had heard about a man who could heal.
If he could only get close enough, and if the man only would - could - maybe...
1 Large crowds followed Jesus as He came down the mountainside.
2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again." Matt 8:1-2 (NLT)
How he got close enough, I don't know. Maybe he hid in some bushes and sprang out as Jesus passed. The shouts of Leper! filled his ears. He knew he only had a moment before they would find the stones that would end his life. Running to Jesus and falling before Him in worship, he cried - he prayed "if you want to" - as simple a prayer as ever was spoken.
Jesus did the unthinkable - more than the man could have dreamed. In front of the crowds who had been amazed at His teaching, who had hung on every word..
He touched him, lifting him to his feet and then said..
"I want to. Be healed!"
Everything changed in an instant - all traces of the disease were gone. The man was whole, clean, cured!
Because Jesus wanted to.
I'm sitting here this morning trying to fathom what Jesus went through this week. And even before He came to earth, the conversation in heaven when God saw Adam and Eve fall into sin in the garden, and just how much pain all of mankind would suffer through sin.
"Who will go and make it right? Who will pay the price for their sins?"
And Jesus said, "I want to."
Friend, whatever you are facing this week, the clear message of Jesus can be summed up this way - "If you give me your life, I'll give you mine. I want to."
Do you want that? Do you want His love? Do you want freedom, wholeness, real life?
Then do whatever it takes to get to Him and fall before His feet asking Him to take over your life and make you whole.
He will. It's what He wants to do.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
How many prayers? How many times had he begged God to heal him? Add to that the prayers of his family and friends who saw a man lose it all, through no fault of his own. It was a disease - leprosy - that changed everything.
He had lost the companionship of his wife and children, as he had to be shut out of the village and to live among others like him.
He could no longer choose what to wear, being required to wear the lepers black, torn clothing.
He could no longer look people in the eye, having to cover his face and call out "Leper, Unclean" upon a chance meeting and even then he might be stoned.
And bit by bit, day by day, he was losing his ability to function - to live. That loss brought with it two new companions that seemed to never leave - fear and hopelessness.
But he had heard about a man who could heal.
If he could only get close enough, and if the man only would - could - maybe...
1 Large crowds followed Jesus as He came down the mountainside.
2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if you want to, you can make me well again." Matt 8:1-2 (NLT)
How he got close enough, I don't know. Maybe he hid in some bushes and sprang out as Jesus passed. The shouts of Leper! filled his ears. He knew he only had a moment before they would find the stones that would end his life. Running to Jesus and falling before Him in worship, he cried - he prayed "if you want to" - as simple a prayer as ever was spoken.
Jesus did the unthinkable - more than the man could have dreamed. In front of the crowds who had been amazed at His teaching, who had hung on every word..
He touched him, lifting him to his feet and then said..
"I want to. Be healed!"
Everything changed in an instant - all traces of the disease were gone. The man was whole, clean, cured!
Because Jesus wanted to.
I'm sitting here this morning trying to fathom what Jesus went through this week. And even before He came to earth, the conversation in heaven when God saw Adam and Eve fall into sin in the garden, and just how much pain all of mankind would suffer through sin.
"Who will go and make it right? Who will pay the price for their sins?"
And Jesus said, "I want to."
Friend, whatever you are facing this week, the clear message of Jesus can be summed up this way - "If you give me your life, I'll give you mine. I want to."
Do you want that? Do you want His love? Do you want freedom, wholeness, real life?
Then do whatever it takes to get to Him and fall before His feet asking Him to take over your life and make you whole.
He will. It's what He wants to do.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
The Plane! The Plane!
Well, it finally happened. After almost five years of preaching in a church with a side wall of glass, underneath the approaches of Eglin Air Force base, having to compete almost weekly for the congregation's attention with all manners of high performance and commercial aircraft - I lost it - right in the middle of a sermon.
"Whoa - cool!" I believe were my exact words. (I'm not sure about what that is in Greek or Hebrew)
It was a stealth fighter coming low over the sanctuary that finally got me to notice. Of course everyone else already had. The movement of such a unique airplane did it.
Reflecting on that this morning got made me think - how can you tell when a church is moving forward? And how does the world outside notice?
With the planes, when they turn and cut against the air, their speed creates a "ripping" sound that lets you know that they are pushing through the opposition on their way.
With the church, what catches my eye is people.
When people of various backgrounds and places in life are coming to worship, and staying after to share - that's movement.
When families grow stronger and when those families grow closer to others, that's movement.
When individuals grow in the reality of their commitment to Christ, and then display that commitment by going against the culture - staying faithful in marriage, true in their words and actions in every situation to what they say they believe - that's movement.
But when will the world notice?
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NLT)
This week, that love might take the form of invitation - asking a friend or neighbor to share the Easter experience with you. From Good Friday's gloom to Sunday's exhilaration - it is a weekend to be with those you love. Bring them all - that surely will be noticed.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Well, it finally happened. After almost five years of preaching in a church with a side wall of glass, underneath the approaches of Eglin Air Force base, having to compete almost weekly for the congregation's attention with all manners of high performance and commercial aircraft - I lost it - right in the middle of a sermon.
"Whoa - cool!" I believe were my exact words. (I'm not sure about what that is in Greek or Hebrew)
It was a stealth fighter coming low over the sanctuary that finally got me to notice. Of course everyone else already had. The movement of such a unique airplane did it.
Reflecting on that this morning got made me think - how can you tell when a church is moving forward? And how does the world outside notice?
With the planes, when they turn and cut against the air, their speed creates a "ripping" sound that lets you know that they are pushing through the opposition on their way.
With the church, what catches my eye is people.
When people of various backgrounds and places in life are coming to worship, and staying after to share - that's movement.
When families grow stronger and when those families grow closer to others, that's movement.
When individuals grow in the reality of their commitment to Christ, and then display that commitment by going against the culture - staying faithful in marriage, true in their words and actions in every situation to what they say they believe - that's movement.
But when will the world notice?
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NLT)
This week, that love might take the form of invitation - asking a friend or neighbor to share the Easter experience with you. From Good Friday's gloom to Sunday's exhilaration - it is a weekend to be with those you love. Bring them all - that surely will be noticed.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Friday, April 02, 2004
When the Cheering Stopped
We are on the cusp of a very special week as I write this. Sunday will begin Holy Week in Christian churches all around the globe. In thousands of languages and dialects, the story of Jesus' Passion will be told. Don't miss it.
John 12:17-19 (Msg) The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. [18] It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. [19] The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."
If Gallop, Barna, or Harris had taken a poll, Jesus would have been proclaimed king in a landslide that Palm Sunday, as even his enemies admitted that His popularity was at an all time high. People thronged to see Him enter Jerusalem.
But within a few days, people in Jerusalem were crying for Him to be executed as a criminal. And so He was. How did Jesus handle not just a change in popularity, but intense rejection? How can we learn from what He did?
No, we'll never enter Jerusalem at the head of thousands of our followers. But we enjoy being praised, and we like being liked. What happens to our convictions when we aren't? What principle can we look at to guide our way?
What did Jesus do?
John 12:27-28 (Msg)
"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. [28] I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' "
Knowing that this celebration would end, and that the week would find Him bruised, battered, and crucified, Jesus looked not to His circumstances for direction, but to God. It was God's will that He used like a homing beacon. It was His passion to please God and glorify His name that kept Him going.
What are you here for?
Glorifying God. That's why you were placed here in the first place.
Is God in first place within your life?
Take the next week and use it to redirect your focus off the things of this life. Use the lens of Jesus' Passion to help you push toward deeper things - toward God. People aren't going to always be cheering your efforts you know.
But God will. The cheering may stop here, but heaven will raise a ruckus when you come home.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
We are on the cusp of a very special week as I write this. Sunday will begin Holy Week in Christian churches all around the globe. In thousands of languages and dialects, the story of Jesus' Passion will be told. Don't miss it.
John 12:17-19 (Msg) The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. [18] It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. [19] The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."
If Gallop, Barna, or Harris had taken a poll, Jesus would have been proclaimed king in a landslide that Palm Sunday, as even his enemies admitted that His popularity was at an all time high. People thronged to see Him enter Jerusalem.
But within a few days, people in Jerusalem were crying for Him to be executed as a criminal. And so He was. How did Jesus handle not just a change in popularity, but intense rejection? How can we learn from what He did?
No, we'll never enter Jerusalem at the head of thousands of our followers. But we enjoy being praised, and we like being liked. What happens to our convictions when we aren't? What principle can we look at to guide our way?
What did Jesus do?
John 12:27-28 (Msg)
"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. [28] I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' "
Knowing that this celebration would end, and that the week would find Him bruised, battered, and crucified, Jesus looked not to His circumstances for direction, but to God. It was God's will that He used like a homing beacon. It was His passion to please God and glorify His name that kept Him going.
What are you here for?
Glorifying God. That's why you were placed here in the first place.
Is God in first place within your life?
Take the next week and use it to redirect your focus off the things of this life. Use the lens of Jesus' Passion to help you push toward deeper things - toward God. People aren't going to always be cheering your efforts you know.
But God will. The cheering may stop here, but heaven will raise a ruckus when you come home.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Aim High
Well, all work here came to a stop for a few minutes today as the USAF aerial demonstration team - the Thunderbirds - did their practice for this weekend's air show. With 5 F-16's roaring overhead, you couldn't hear yourself think anyway, so under NW Florida's impossibly blue skies, people pulled off the road, others even in our church parking lot - to look up.
I am not sure how often we do that unless we're drawn to by the extraordinary.
But we ought to always. Excellence in what we do, as demonstrated so well today overhead by the Thunderbirds, should be the norm, not the exception. Paul wrote about that when he wrote:
1 Cor. 9:24-26 (Msg)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. [25] All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
[26] I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!
When we look at those who have trained well and perform at such a high level, we should take a moment and ask ourselves "Am I giving it everything I've got?"
As believers, we can train for each day by praying to God, reading His Word, and by meeting with Him in worship. And unlike a performance an athlete does, we can exercise the benefits of that training in our everyday lives. The fruits of the Spirit are our medals.
Galatians 5:22 (Msg)
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments.
So don't be satisfied with where you are - aim high!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Well, all work here came to a stop for a few minutes today as the USAF aerial demonstration team - the Thunderbirds - did their practice for this weekend's air show. With 5 F-16's roaring overhead, you couldn't hear yourself think anyway, so under NW Florida's impossibly blue skies, people pulled off the road, others even in our church parking lot - to look up.
I am not sure how often we do that unless we're drawn to by the extraordinary.
But we ought to always. Excellence in what we do, as demonstrated so well today overhead by the Thunderbirds, should be the norm, not the exception. Paul wrote about that when he wrote:
1 Cor. 9:24-26 (Msg)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. [25] All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
[26] I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!
When we look at those who have trained well and perform at such a high level, we should take a moment and ask ourselves "Am I giving it everything I've got?"
As believers, we can train for each day by praying to God, reading His Word, and by meeting with Him in worship. And unlike a performance an athlete does, we can exercise the benefits of that training in our everyday lives. The fruits of the Spirit are our medals.
Galatians 5:22 (Msg)
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments.
So don't be satisfied with where you are - aim high!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
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