Training

Bobby's been coming to church a week now, and from what I can tell, he seems to be enjoying it. Playing with the other little ones does seem to take a lot out of him though, as I noticed Sunday morning he slept through my entire sermon.

But what do you expect from a dog?

Yes, Bobby's a dog. It's not unusual for us to have some dogs show up on Wednesday night with their owners. In fact, last night we had four in all. But Bobby has been very consistent in his attendance, and as his pastor, I wanted to commend him.

Really though, the praise should go to Ellen Fannon, as she is the one who's bringing Bobby with her to church. While he's here, Bobby learns about obedience, about how to get along with others, and experiences things he otherwise wouldn't.

Bobby's learning about life, and his caregivers are seeking to teach him while living it.

We have other little ones here whose parents haven't understood that lesson yet. At New Hope, we've always been thrilled to be a part of teaching children and youth about life, and especially about life in Christ. It's exciting to see them learn and grow.

But we only have them for a couple of hours a week. Given that, it is pretty hard for us to change the habits that form the rest of the week. Unless the parents are teaching about living the Christian life while living it, the kids will forget how to really live. That's why the Bible is so insistent on how to teach your children.

Deut. 6:4-7 (Msg)
Attention, Israel!
God, our God! God the one and only!
[5] Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!
[6] Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you [7] and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.

How do you get the wisdom of God inside your children?

By living the life in front of them - everywhere you go. It's impossible to give away what you don't have yourself, so let them see you reading your Bible, and praying to God in praise of His goodness, mercy, and grace. Show them about how much God matters to you by being faithful in worship and Bible study.

Teach the children of how great God is - how loving - how wise by using the creation He has provided and through life situations you encounter. Show them God's love in the rainbow, in a flower, even in His providing us with faithful companionship through pets like Bobby. Let them see you relate to others out of Christ's love to you.

Train them in the ways of God, and His path will be easy for them to find when He calls for their life commitment to Him.

Bobby's life's work is to be a therapy dog, giving aid and comfort to people in need. He's learning how to treat people by being with them.

God's clear intent for we humans is that we learn about Him by doing the same.

Grace!

David

Just another day

I had just finished my daily devotional time and thought I'd spend a moment checking in with the world. In today's environment, that means the internet, and for me it's navigating to Google's news page.

There's a picture of two smiling former hostages as they arrived home in Italy.
Another of Prime Minister Tony Blair of England - and he's not smiling as he fights for his political life.
One of the private spacecraft that successfully slipped the bonds of earth today out west.
And one of a baby, injured in a rocket attack on an Israeli town.

Just another day.

Hate and heartache, laughter and joy, delivered from all over the world and refreshed every few minutes.

On second thought, maybe I'm not through with my devotionals after all.

How about some good news?

Romans 3:25-26 (Msg) (emphasis mine)
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear.

God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured.

This is not only clear, but it's now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.

So the next time you read too much of today's "news", remember this verse. While the world seems to rush to spread the news about what's going wrong, God continually is setting things right between people who believe in Jesus' sacrifice and Sonship and Himself.

Just another day of God's love reaching past our failures and drawing us into His love.

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.

After The Storm

We're coming up on two weeks since Hurricane Ivan passed by, and it seems we are in a holding pattern. Due to the widespread devastation, there are more roofs damaged than roofers to repair them. And too, all the piles of limbs and leaves still line the streets. It will be weeks before all that is cleared.

It was easy to spot that damage after the storm. You could see which shingles were missing - which limbs and leaves were at your feet. But that wasn't all the damage.

After every storm, it takes a while for some of the hurts to reveal themselves.

This morning as I rolled to a stop at church, I looked over at our oak tree. Everything you could every want in a tree - it is. Beautifully shaped, huge trunk, large low branches just perfect for children's adventures. More than once a member has driven up on Wednesday night to find their pastor up a tree - rescuing a little one who went up a little too far.

At first glance after the storm, it looked fine - a few missing leaves. But today, some of the broken branches have revealed themselves with brown leaves among the green. Hidden before, though hurt, now the full extent of the damage is in plain view.

Maybe you've gone through a storm yourself recently. It wasn't your first one, and you've learned over the years what you need to do to get well. But this time, healing didn't come.

Or perhaps an event from your past, that you thought had long been dealt with - now haunts your thoughts again.

It's time then for a visit from the Master Gardener as revealed to us in John's gospel, chapter 15.

John 15:4-5 (Msg)
"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
[5] "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing.

If you are dry right now, maybe it's because your relationship with Christ has been damaged by the storms. Or perhaps an old wound, never fully healed, has been uncovered by the winds of life.

Come to Jesus.

Give your hurts to Him.

The life you want - the life full of all the things that matter - only comes through Him. When no one else can spot your hurts - He sees them and seeks to heal - if you'll come to Him.

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.