Picking Up the Pieces
1 John 4:12 (Msg)
No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
Back in the office this evening checking on the buildings. As I walked around the place on the map called New Hope Baptist, I picked up shingle after shingle. The roof didn't really fare too well under the 100+ mph winds.
But the church did just fine.
After talking to almost every family both before and after Ivan came through, I've not heard of any injuries except for one broken ankle, suffered by Susie Finlayson, characteristically for her, suffered while trying to help someone else.
During the storm, people were calling offering to share homes, power, food, hot water, whatever anyone needed. After, people were calling just to check on one another.
Yes, the buildings may have suffered, but the church is doing just fine, even becoming more complete in Christ's love.
Please keep praying for those affected throughout the South by Ivan.
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.
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Thursday, September 16, 2004
There's power, and then there's POWER
We are still experiencing pretty gusty winds of I'd guess 50 mph, but it's nothing like it was last night, when the power of Hurricane Ivan came and took our electricity but left our house.
I've seen tropical storms before, but a hurricane - that's a whole different kind of power.
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)
There's power than can kill the body, but no power that can touch the soul of one who has given their life to Jesus Christ.
Look to that power as you deal with the storms of life.
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 are still experiencing pretty gusty winds of I'd guess 50 mph, but it's nothing like it was last night, when the power of Hurricane Ivan came and took our electricity but left our house.
I've seen tropical storms before, but a hurricane - that's a whole different kind of power.
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. 2 A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)
There's power than can kill the body, but no power that can touch the soul of one who has given their life to Jesus Christ.
Look to that power as you deal with the storms of life.
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, September 15, 2004
Keepers and Leavers
Ivan bears down on the Gulf coast as I write this, and we're still here. But literally millions of people have evacuated the area, hoping to find places of safety.The stories coming out tell of some people in panic mode, not being able to take everything with them and having to make tough choices. I've seen vehicles leaving that looked a little like they were moving away for good, with furniture and appliances piled high in the back of the vehicle. Animal welfare shelters are full with animals that have given their owners uncompomising devotion and unconditional love. But when push came to shove.. their owners decided they weren't worth keeping or were too much trouble to take.
What do you take and what do you leave?
Do you grab the TV?
What about the PC?
Maybe the pictures?
What about those golf clubs, the jet ski or atv?
People that have been through a few of these storms talk about how they realized what really mattered to them. Jesus gave us insight into what those choices say about those that make them.
34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. Luke 12:34 (NLT)
The choices you make at times like this really offer a window into your heart.
Maybe this is the time to take a look at just what your "valuables" are.
And the only way to do that is to begin with your relationship with God. Is it something you can take or leave? Or is it the one relationship that every single value comes out of and is evaluated by?
Take time today to remind yourself of what really matters.
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.
Ivan bears down on the Gulf coast as I write this, and we're still here. But literally millions of people have evacuated the area, hoping to find places of safety.The stories coming out tell of some people in panic mode, not being able to take everything with them and having to make tough choices. I've seen vehicles leaving that looked a little like they were moving away for good, with furniture and appliances piled high in the back of the vehicle. Animal welfare shelters are full with animals that have given their owners uncompomising devotion and unconditional love. But when push came to shove.. their owners decided they weren't worth keeping or were too much trouble to take.
What do you take and what do you leave?
Do you grab the TV?
What about the PC?
Maybe the pictures?
What about those golf clubs, the jet ski or atv?
People that have been through a few of these storms talk about how they realized what really mattered to them. Jesus gave us insight into what those choices say about those that make them.
34 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. Luke 12:34 (NLT)
The choices you make at times like this really offer a window into your heart.
Maybe this is the time to take a look at just what your "valuables" are.
And the only way to do that is to begin with your relationship with God. Is it something you can take or leave? Or is it the one relationship that every single value comes out of and is evaluated by?
Take time today to remind yourself of what really matters.
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.
Storm Warnings
Here on the Gulf Coast, we are under the gun for Hurricane Ivan. As it approached today, the people in our area reacted in different ways. Some took it very seriously, boarding up windows, buying large quantities of bottled water, and making sure their vehicles were full of gasoline. Others didn't really seem to do anything, And then there were those who I saw headed to the beach with surfboards resting on the roof of their car.
I'm sure every one of them knows of the hurricane. After all, the TV, radio, and every other media outlet was blaring the latest predictions of intensity and landfall. Watching what Ivan had done in Jamaica, the Caymans, and Cuba gave everyone a glimpse of the seriousness of the storm.
They were warned.
As a pastor, I see a lot of storms.
When people decide to live life outside God's will, they place themselves in real danger. Many if not all know better. They've been in Bible Study, heard hundreds of sermons. But all of those don't seem to affect their daily lives. Jesus acknowledged the problem and the results.
24 "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit— but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26 "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
Matt 7:24-27 (MSG)
Friends, Bible trivia is a game. Bible study and prayerful application of what you learn to your daily life - that's real. Don't be fooled into thinking the storms won't come - they will. Take time each day to open your Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to higher ground.
Build your life on the Rock of God's Word.
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.
Here on the Gulf Coast, we are under the gun for Hurricane Ivan. As it approached today, the people in our area reacted in different ways. Some took it very seriously, boarding up windows, buying large quantities of bottled water, and making sure their vehicles were full of gasoline. Others didn't really seem to do anything, And then there were those who I saw headed to the beach with surfboards resting on the roof of their car.
I'm sure every one of them knows of the hurricane. After all, the TV, radio, and every other media outlet was blaring the latest predictions of intensity and landfall. Watching what Ivan had done in Jamaica, the Caymans, and Cuba gave everyone a glimpse of the seriousness of the storm.
They were warned.
As a pastor, I see a lot of storms.
When people decide to live life outside God's will, they place themselves in real danger. Many if not all know better. They've been in Bible Study, heard hundreds of sermons. But all of those don't seem to affect their daily lives. Jesus acknowledged the problem and the results.
24 "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit— but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26 "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
Matt 7:24-27 (MSG)
Friends, Bible trivia is a game. Bible study and prayerful application of what you learn to your daily life - that's real. Don't be fooled into thinking the storms won't come - they will. Take time each day to open your Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to higher ground.
Build your life on the Rock of God's Word.
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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