A Rising Tide
One of the miracles of last week was in the approach of Hurricane Frances to the Gulf Coast. After battering across Florida, it popped out into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and it appeared that Florida's panhandle would feel the power that destroyed so much property on the way here.
Yet just as Frances approached, it slowed. Not a lot, but enough that when it hit the coast, it hit at LOW TIDE. So a storm surge that could have carried millions of gallons of water over the beaches and into homes and businesses was nullified. There's no power at low tide.
For those who feel that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness seems to have degenerated into tiredness, debt, and just trying to make it through another day,
For you who feel living a life of faith and trust is far too hard most times,
I suggest to you that maybe in your efforts to do it your way, you are living at low tide.
Doesn't mean God's power isn't available to you, just that you want it your way, on your timing, and God doesn't answer to your whistle or whine.
Notice in the verses below Who is supposed to do the heavy lifting.
Hebrews 13:20,21 (Msg)
May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole...
Now put you together,
provide you with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
What looks so hard without God, is so simple when He's in control. Remember, His power flows into and through our weaknesses. It's not about us. It's about Him - always Him.
Do this. Pray at the beginning of each day, and before each challenge you face during it, for the power of God to be released in and through your efforts to make Him proud.
Let God be God.
You'll be amazed at the power of Love's rising tide.
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.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Forecasting
Everybody around here has become interested in the weather it seems. Here in the western panhandle, we are beginning to think that the law of averages is eventually going to catch up with us, and one of these hurricanes is going to hit instead of miss.
The other day, when Frances was to come calling but didn't, people in the neighborhood were reacting very differently. One man was covering his windows with precut corrugated tin, while his neighbor stood by with what appeared to be a glass of tea, watching.
In the bayous, boats of all shapes and sizes rode at anchor, while along the water's edge, others sat tied to the docks.
This time it missed, but what if it hadn't?
It reminded me of people forgetting about Christ's return.
1 Thes. 5:2 (Msg)
You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.
If we cannot know when Christ will return, then everyday could be the day. And what a day!
Are you ready? The forecast for those who are is JOY!
1 Peter 1:13 (Msg)
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives.
Better get ready!
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.
Everybody around here has become interested in the weather it seems. Here in the western panhandle, we are beginning to think that the law of averages is eventually going to catch up with us, and one of these hurricanes is going to hit instead of miss.
The other day, when Frances was to come calling but didn't, people in the neighborhood were reacting very differently. One man was covering his windows with precut corrugated tin, while his neighbor stood by with what appeared to be a glass of tea, watching.
In the bayous, boats of all shapes and sizes rode at anchor, while along the water's edge, others sat tied to the docks.
This time it missed, but what if it hadn't?
It reminded me of people forgetting about Christ's return.
1 Thes. 5:2 (Msg)
You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.
If we cannot know when Christ will return, then everyday could be the day. And what a day!
Are you ready? The forecast for those who are is JOY!
1 Peter 1:13 (Msg)
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives.
Better get ready!
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.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Searching
Day-glo orange signs flag the corner of every street in the neighborhood our church sits in. At first, I really didn't pay any attention to them, thinking that they must have been left over from a weekend yard sale.
But as I pulled to a stop opposite one, the wind blew the corner, that had been sagging from the rain, back straight and I saw the words in bold black - LOST!
The poster went on to describe a tabby colored cat, a family treasure, wholly and dearly loved, and to give information of who to contact should anyone see or find her. I pulled away wondering just how hard people searched for lost things.
But I guess that depends on how much you value what is lost. From the signs, I'm betting that kitty is being looked for every chance they get.
It just so happened that my weekly trip through the gospels found me in the 15th chapter of Luke today, and the dots started to connect. For that chapter is full of lost things - a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.
So how hard would they search?
Luke 15:4 (Msg)
"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?
So one lost one was worth risking everything else to find.
So how would someone react to a lost coin?
Luke 15:8 (Msg)
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?
And a lost coin meant turning everything upside down, searching as hard as you can as long as it takes.
And to a lost son? As the son, who has realized how lost he is returns home...
Luke 15:20 (Msg)
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.
A lost son's return means more than risking everything, or working as hard as you can to find what was lost. It meant dropping pride, judgement and his own right to justice in favor of racing to meet someone who was lost.
And that's exactly what God did. For you.
You see folks - you matter to God so much, He'll work in countless ways to find you - wherever you are.
Oh and when you are in His arms...
His search, and yours - are over forever. For He has what gives Him joy, and you have everything He is.
It's called...
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.
Day-glo orange signs flag the corner of every street in the neighborhood our church sits in. At first, I really didn't pay any attention to them, thinking that they must have been left over from a weekend yard sale.
But as I pulled to a stop opposite one, the wind blew the corner, that had been sagging from the rain, back straight and I saw the words in bold black - LOST!
The poster went on to describe a tabby colored cat, a family treasure, wholly and dearly loved, and to give information of who to contact should anyone see or find her. I pulled away wondering just how hard people searched for lost things.
But I guess that depends on how much you value what is lost. From the signs, I'm betting that kitty is being looked for every chance they get.
It just so happened that my weekly trip through the gospels found me in the 15th chapter of Luke today, and the dots started to connect. For that chapter is full of lost things - a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.
So how hard would they search?
Luke 15:4 (Msg)
"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?
So one lost one was worth risking everything else to find.
So how would someone react to a lost coin?
Luke 15:8 (Msg)
"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it?
And a lost coin meant turning everything upside down, searching as hard as you can as long as it takes.
And to a lost son? As the son, who has realized how lost he is returns home...
Luke 15:20 (Msg)
"When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.
A lost son's return means more than risking everything, or working as hard as you can to find what was lost. It meant dropping pride, judgement and his own right to justice in favor of racing to meet someone who was lost.
And that's exactly what God did. For you.
You see folks - you matter to God so much, He'll work in countless ways to find you - wherever you are.
Oh and when you are in His arms...
His search, and yours - are over forever. For He has what gives Him joy, and you have everything He is.
It's called...
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.
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