Always

Maybe the young mother knew she wasn't going to be able to care for her baby girl, so she made sure that throughout her life, people would have to ask about the unusual name - Rilya. Homeless and addicted to cocaine, the baby wouldn't get what she needed from mom, so the state of Florida stepped in and took the five week old into their care.

Bunny and I have known some kids like Rilya, one of which was only 4 days old when taken. There are many children like her, in Florida and elsewhere, whose mothers just aren't able to care for them. Someone has to. So the state, or another group steps in and takes custody. Many times they succeed in making a difference. Other times even though they pour money, support, and time into the lives of the families that they children come from, the kids suffer.

But nothing prepared me for Rilya. How could you lose a child? Everyone's busy right now pointing fingers. I hope at least a few are cupping hands together and calling her name, nailing flyers to telephone poles, getting
her picture on milk cartons - something, anything productive. Lord, help someone find Rilya. Pray folks - pray without ceasing.

In the Bible there is a story about a shepherd. He was well off. Had great flocks of sheep - 100 total. But as night fell, and he counted each one as they entered the sheep fold, one was missing. He could have said, "well,
I've still got 99. Maybe it will turn up. I'll look at first light." Here's what Jesus related to the disciples.

"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? 13 And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice
over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Matt 18:13-14 (NLT)

I don't know where little Rilya is right now. But I know this - God loves her. Her mom might have named her after what her heart said "Rilya - remember I love you always", but always with her lasted until the next fix,
and the state stepped in. Always with the state lasted until an employee got tired of making visits to check on Rilya's welfare.

When God says always - it means always.

To Rilya - and to you.

When Jesus went to the cross for our sins, He was saying "remember I love you." When He rose from the dead, He was emphatically saying once and for all - "Always."

If you know Jesus as Savior and Lord today - you will know Him as advocate and friend, always.

Grace, mercy, and peace,

David Wilson
A Glimpse of New Hope is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Valparaiso, FL. If you have received this in error,or no longer wish to receive it, please email me at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net. I'll be sure
to remove your address.If you know of others who would like to receive it, please forward their names and they will be added. May God bless each of you. Copyright 2002, David A. Wilson Visit New Hope Baptist Church in person or our website at www.newhopevalp.org