Scars

Little Jesse Smith came up to me Wednesday and I thought he had already had his face painted for Halloween. He had several of what I thought were painted freckles on his face. But they weren't painted.

They were the imprints of a piece of a magnolia tree that impacted on his cheek when propelled by another little boy's strong right arm. Having been involved in several sub-nuclear exchanges like that myself as a boy, I smiled and hoped the "freckles" would fade away, and not leave a scar.

I carry on my body similar imprints, maybe we all do to a certain extent or another. The scar from a minibike fall, those from softball, the one from my Christmas pocketknife (didn't get to keep that long).

They even served as identification for my draft card. If you wanted to identify David Wilson, if you knew the scars, you could pick me out of a crowd.

I came across this verse in my devotional reading today.

For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. Gal. 6:17
I thought about what Paul must have meant. Then I found these:

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Cor 4:8-10 (NLT)

Paul was beaten, stoned, whipped, shipwrecked, and his body showed it. People could tell what he had endured for the cause of Christ.

I sat in a room with several pastors yesterday. No one had any visible scars, unless you count my brother from Shalimar who fell off a roof and is still wearing a back and shoulder brace. But if you were an intimate party within their lives, you'd know the scars are there. Comes with the job.

If you have been faithful in following Christ, you have them too. Scars

I want to thank you today, Pastors and lay people alike who have given their lives to Christ and are serving Him in ministry. Volunteer or salaried, male or female, young or old, I am so thankful for you.

Thank you for giving of your time to God's purposes when there were things undone at home.

Thank you for enduring discouragement and criticism and pressing on in God's work.

Thank you for placing your trust in those of us who serve God through His church and His people.

Thank you for giving to God's work when there were needs and wants you chose not to fill.

Thank you for those times you were giving all you had and no one noticed.

Thank you for loving Christ more than you love anything or anyone else.

We might not recognize you by your scars, but the Lord knows you have them. Great will be your reward in heaven one day. Until then, let the life of the Lord Jesus Christ be seen through your lives. That's the best advertisement for Christ there is.

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.

Going To Be Slowing

Another beautiful day in Valparaiso! A nice breeze, sunshine, and a cooler feel in the air today. The school year is winding down now, less than a week
to go for some, but I can still hear the sounds of excited children out for PE. I've been there for that activity, even ran a mile with the kids one morning (Note to self - don't try that in street shoes again - ouch!). The coaches are warm and encouraging, and the kids really respond well. Everything is done in an orderly and respectful fashion. Of course it helps when you have gigantic whistles.

But this morning, right before they finished their time outside, I hear the boom box blasting "We will, we will rock you. We will, we will rock you."
I've heard the kids loud before, but they were really succeeding in rocking me, and I'm 100 yards away! They were loud!

So here's my question. How easy will it be for that poor unsuspecting teacher who receives those kids next period to get them to sit down and be quiet? They've just been rocking the world, racing around outside, and now they have to be quiet and not move? Uh huh. Someone is going to get to see
Ms. Larrimore today. (principal)

In athletics, they use what is known as a "cool-down" period between extreme exertion and rest. Basically you walk and stretch until your body remembers how to go slow. Good idea isn't it? It sounds like the kids next door could use one too. Not a new idea though. As with all good things, it began with God.

10 "Be silent, and know that I am God!
Psalms 46:10 (NLT)

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:16 (NLT)

Think about your life. Are you often operating at a pace not unlike the "we will, we will rock you" decibel level? Do you find yourself increasingly
irritable? Have you caught yourself unable to relax?

Then how can you expect to provide the quiet time with God that you need to grow in Him? We need a time every day to "cool down" and warm up our
relationship with God.

Jesus lived life to the full, with every day being filled with challenges.
People to heal. Disciples to teach. Pharisees to spar with. Every day was packed. How did He maintain His most amazing relationship with the Father?

He often ---- this means regularly - not just on Sunday at church withdrew ---- got away from everyone except God to the wilderness ---- a place of no distractions - just the attraction of God's presence for prayer ----- intentionally pursuing a close fellowship with God.

Can we do less?

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