Invested Hope

 

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

—Psalm 119:114

In what do you invest? Do you have a 401k? An IRA? A savings account? Do you buy U. S. Savings Bonds? Do you have a part-time business that you treat as an investment? Or, do you make your investment in other people or organizations? Maybe you give your time to help others. Perhaps you take on responsibility to give those in need first-hand aid.

Most of us invest in something with the fervent expectation that, in due season, we will see a return on our investment. We may not expect very much of a return. But, we do hope that whatever in which we have invested will prove to have been a wise decision.

Speaking of God, the Psalmist, in giving specific guidance to the people of Israel, acknowledges a very important investment in Psalm 119:114:

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

The Psalmist acknowledges that God offers the ultimate level of protection against the hurtful damage done by the trials and tribulations of life. Just as a shield protects a warrior, so God provides a refuge of mercy, grace, and love that will shield those He loves from the permanent and lasting harm that might come from any type of attack. As a result, the Psalmist declares that he has put his hope in the word of God—His written Word and His Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because the Jews had always been subject to attack from those who wanted to dominate and destroy them, the Psalmist was all too aware of the need for reliable protection. That’s why this theme of trusting in God and investing in Him arises throughout the Psalms.

As we begin this new day, we can live in such a way that illustrates where we have placed our maximum investment. We can show others that trusting in God and receiving from Him the loving care and refuge He is ready to give can reap benefits beyond our ability to fully comprehend.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Surefooted

 

The road of life is, at best, a difficult one. Almost no one would dispute that statement. We wake up each day and don’t really know what might happen to us during the next 24 hours.

By the time we reach mid-life, we’ve all encountered heartbreak, sorrow, despair, and grief. We’ve been tossed about by every tortuous wind. We have had our “parade” rained on so many times that we carry an umbrella with us everywhere we go.

Yes, in the midst of trials and difficulties, there are very distinct moments of great joy. We don’t have to think very hard to remember those moments that made us smile, roar with laughter, or just feel that deep inward sense of peace.

But, the rest of the time, we recognize that life is, indeed, challenging. Fortunately, we belong to a God who provides a surefooted pathway for us. Even if we journey to very high, rocky ground, God gives us a secure place to set down each of our feet, as we walk forward with Him.

The Prophet Habakkuk composed a song of praise to God that includes these words, found in Habakkuk 3:19:

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Just as deer of many varieties have a surefooted grasp on all kinds of soil and terrain, so God gives us the spiritual surefootedness to keep us on the straight pathway. Therefore, as we begin this day, let’s cling to that path with the knowledge that God will keep our spiritual feet secure.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Value of Trust

 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

—Isaiah 26:3

Someone might make the claim that babies don’t know any better. But, most parents of a newborn will insist that their baby knows who they are. A new mom and dad can sense a calmness, a peacefulness, come over their infant when he or she is held in a parent’s arms. The sound of mom’s voice, the feel of dad’s strong arms—all of these distinctives give a baby cues that say, “You are safe. Mom or Dad will protect you.”

So it is with we “Christ’s-ones” who belong to God through His Son, Jesus. We can sense when our Father’s loving arms of protection have wrapped tightly around us. We can experience a peaceful rest whenever we acknowledge that God watches out for those He loves.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote this song of praise to God for the southern kingdom of Judah to sing on a great day of celebration. Among the glorious words that would fill the air were these, found in Isaiah 26:3:

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

As we begin this day, we can cling to the fact that God will keep us in perfect peace when we submit our minds and hearts to Him and remain steadfast in the clutch of His loving arms. Our trust in God paves the pathway of our peace with His unending glory and majesty. Let it be so this day, and every day.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Therefore, We Will Not Fear

 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

—Isaiah 46:1-3

Some say that dads take more risks with their children than moms do. I don’t know whether that is generally true, or not. But, in my case, my dad certainly took chances with me that my mom would have shuddered at.

When I was about five or six, my dad built a small addition to our modest home. It was an extension of the kitchen and provided an eating area, more like a breakfast nook. Since there were only three of us, it served us nicely.

The addition had a basement that connected with the original basement of the house. It also had a back door that allowed someone to enter the house from the rear yard and from the detached single car garage.

One night, while my mom was at a church meeting, dad was laboring on the addition in the new basement and I sat at the opening on the first floor watching him. After a while, he asked me if I wanted to come down and look around. At this point there was no stairs, just a ladder. I was afraid to climb down the ladder, so my dad told me to jump and he would catch me.

I stood looking down for what seemed like a very long time. All the while, my dad kept encouraging me to jump. “I won’t drop you, Pal,” he said.

Finally, I closed my eyes and jumped. And, my dad did exactly what he said he would do. He caught me, set me gently on the cement floor, and invited me to look around the basement, a place I had never explored.

My dad took a chance. But, he did so knowing that he was capable of delivering what he had promised. I took a chance, too. But, in doing so, I had confidence that what my dad told me was trustworthy.

In our spiritual lives, God, as our loving Father, will often set us on a course that challenges us and causes us to stretch a bit. He does this to move us forward in our spiritual formation. He promises to care for us, if we would only trust him.

This is the very message that the Prophet Isaiah conveyed to the southern kingdom of Judah, when he made this declaration, found in Isaiah 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Because God is our refuge—our hiding place—and the One who gives us divine strength, we can move forward, without fear, along the pathway He has placed before us. That’s something we should keep in mind as we begin another new day. We can always trust God to care for us in an exciting and life-giving way.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Holds Our Hands

 

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”

—Isaiah 41:13

As a child, when you crossed the street, did your mom or dad take hold of your hand and lead you safely across? Most parents do that as a matter of course. They want to make certain their children do not run ahead of them or lag behind them. They want their children to keep pace with this dangerous task. They want to protect their children by ensuring they will stay at their side.

As children of the most high God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, we have the unique privilege of experiencing the amazing Presence of the One who loves us with His everlasting love. He desires to take us by the hand and lead us across the dangerous passages of our lives. By His abiding Presence, we can walk forward in safety and assurance.

The Prophet Isaiah recorded these words of God, given to the children of Israel, specifically the southern kingdom of Judah, as found in Isaiah 41:13:

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”

Many years ago I had the great privilege of becoming a close friend of Dr. David R. Mains. At the time, back in the late 1970s, he had taken the reigns of the radio program The Chapel of the Air from his uncle, John D. Jess. This fifteen minute program, aired Monday through Saturday on over 600 radio stations throughout the United States and Canada, had a closing theme orchestrated by David’s brother-in-law, Ronald L. Huff. Ronn’s lush arrangement offers a sweet and moving treatment of the gospel chorus “He Holds My Hand.”

Most listeners to the radio program have never heard the words to this song. But, they echo the message God gave to His chosen people, including those of us who follow Christ:

He holds my hand,
Jesus holds my hand.
Safely to heaven He leads the way.
He is my keeper from day to day.
He holds my hand,
Jesus holds my hand.
Though the way may be long,
My Savior is strong.
And, He holds my hand.

May we begin this day with the realization that God is holding our hand. He will keep us safe from the dangers that may cross our pathway. He will lead us gently along the road of life that He has laid out before us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Can We Really Claim This Verse?

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

—Jeremiah 29:11

One of the somewhat annoying things that happens, as we become more and more familiar with the Bible, is that we find people quoting verses out of context. But recently, I’ve begun to wonder if when we study the context we might actually discover that the way God has acted in the past may well be the way He will act in the present.

A familiar and oft-quoted verse is found in Jeremiah 29:11, which reads:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

What’s the context for this verse? To whom does it apply? Can we claim this verse as our own today?

Let’s look at the context. Jeremiah acts in his prophetic role at the beginning of Chapter 29 of the Book that bears his name. He reports that God has given him a very specific message for the children of Israel who are in captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah sends this message to them in a letter. About one-third of the way into the letter, we find these words from God, as recorded in Jeremiah 29:10-14:

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Clearly the frequently quoted verse eleven applies to these Jews in captivity in Babylon. God states that He has a plan for them and promises to care for them. Does this verse only apply in this specific situation? Or, does it give us some potent clues about the nature of God and the way He interacts with those He loves and has called to Himself?

I believe that the latter is truer than the former. God illustrates the way He intends to show His love to those who belong to Him. God has a distinct way of relating to not only these exiled Israelites, but also to we “Christ’s-ones” whom He has called to Himself.

Stuart Hamblen certainly understood this concept of the consistency of God’s love toward His dear children when he wrote the following song in response to Hamblen’s life transformation during the 1949 Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angeles, California. This song makes it clear that our God is One we can trust to do for us what He has done for others:

The chimes of time ring out the news,
Another day is through.
Someone slipped and fell.
Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength,
Your courage to renew.
Do not be disheartened,
For I have news for you.

It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.

There is no night for in His light
You never walk alone.
Always feel at home,
Wherever you may go.
There is no power can conquer you
While God is on your side.
Take Him at His promise,
Don't run away and hide.

It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.

As we begin a new day, let’s not quibble over the nature of God. Rather, let’s learn from what He has revealed about Himself in Scripture. Let’s recognize that God behaves consistently toward those He loves and has called to belong to Himself. We can rejoice in this consistency and revel in His mercy, grace, and abiding love.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Goes With Us

 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

—Deuteronomy 31:6

Do you prefer to go places alone? Or, do you most enjoy going somewhere when one or more of your friends go along with you? Do you most enjoy eating alone in your favorite restaurant? Or, do you find that eating with your friends makes the meal at your favorite restaurant all the more pleasant?

In my days of traveling 39 weeks out of 52, I ate a lot of meals alone. Most of the time, I would simply order room service rather than sit alone in some hotel restaurant. If I did eat alone in a restaurant, I would bring a book to read while I ate.

Most of us prefer company along the journey of our lives. Yes, from time to time, we do like some moments alone. But, for most of our experiences, having someone with whom we enjoy spending time makes the hours pass much more pleasantly. Fortunately, along the pathway of our spiritual journey, we are never alone.

When Moses was preparing to pass the leadership of the children of Israel to Joshua, he gave a very stirring speech. I suggest that this speech rivals any farewell address you will ever hear from a politician or anyone else, for that matter. As a part of that speech, Moses spoke these words to his fellow Jews, as recorded in Deuteronomy 31:6:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We “Christ’s-ones” have been grafted into the Jewish birth-line (Romans 11:11-24). Therefore, these words of Moses belong to us, too. As we walk the pathway God has laid out before us, we need to remember that we are never alone. We can be strong and courageous because God goes with us. We can put aside any fear or terror we might feel because God walks beside us. God has promised that He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us.

As we begin another new day, let’s cling to this truth. We can conquer any foe, overcome any obstacle, achieve any goal, practice any peace, experience any love, all because God goes with us everywhere we go.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Just Forget About It!

 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

—Isaiah 43:18-19

As a blogger who has written over 1,100 blog posts, I receive some very interesting reactions to certain posts that I have created. If you read my blog posts regularly, you know that I often illustrate my point by making reference to something that I’ve experienced over the course of my 71 years of life. Some of those illustrations come from my childhood.

I refer to these events in my life when I believe they help explain the way I think or the way I feel about the subject at hand. However, by making reference to the things I’ve experienced, I have drawn criticism from some readers who say, “Can’t you forget about your past? Why don’t you just move on with your life?”

I always smile when I read such comments. I can’t take a drug that will erase my memory, like two of the characters on the NBC television show Blindspot. My background in Psychology has taught me that what has happened in my past has significantly shaped my present and my future. This remains true unless some greatly significant event turns my world upside down. Beside that fact, I have moved on with my life. But, I have done so recognizing what has shaped me into the person that I am.

Why then does God give these words of instruction to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah, as recorded in Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

The northern kingdom of Israel has already been taken into captivity. Their sin has brought the wrath of God upon them and He has turned them over to their enemies. Judah has remained more or less faithful to God and He has protected them from their enemies. But, as they continue to toy with sin, eventually they, too, will be captured when God lifts His hand of protection from their unrepentant hearts and minds.

So, these words from God have a unique relevance. Yes, their lives are shaped by what has happened in the past. But now, God is going to do something new that will turn their world upside down. He will open up a new pathway for them that will lead them through the wasteland of their lives and bring refreshing streams bubbling to the surface of this barren, desert land.

Back in 1925, Mrs. Charles (Lettie B.) Cowman wrote a delightful little devotional book entitled Streams in the Desert. Its name came from this passage in Isaiah referenced above. I commend this book to anyone who wants to read some heartfelt expressions of deep devotion to Christ and His Kingdom. The original book has been updated by an editor and continues to be available in various forms, including a daily on-line devotional.

As we begin a new day, let’s not lose sight of the fact that what we have experienced in our pasts has, indeed, shaped who we are. But, let’s not become mired down with past experiences. Instead, let’s realize that in our relationship to God through His Son, Jesus, all things have become new. By loving us, forgiving us, and setting us on a path toward holiness, God has turned our world upside down. We can benefit greatly by heeding His words to the people of Judah—this day and every day.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Put on the New Self

 

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

—Ephesians 4:22-24

Have you ever seen someone that you were used to seeing in work clothes attend a wedding in a suit and been utterly amazed at how different they looked? The phrase, “He cleans up really well!” comes to mind to describe this transformation.

We get accustomed to seeing people in their normal setting and forming opinions about the way they look based on their attire. If the mechanic who works on your vehicle suddenly appears at a swanky restaurant clothed in his best suit and tie, you may not even recognize him. Likewise, if you are used to seeing a teacher dressed professionally, you may be surprised to see her shopping in the supermarket in her workout clothes.

In addition to our physical attire, we walk around with a spiritual attire, as well. It’s that spiritual clothing that the Apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote these words, found in Ephesians 4:22-24:

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

When we acknowledge the gift of salvation that God gives us through His Son, Jesus, we become new creatures. Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that the old is gone and the new has come. So, it makes perfect sense to liken our spiritual transformation to the putting on of new clothing—clothing that is appropriate for our new spiritual environment.

As we begin a new day, let’s gladly shed our old ways, our old thoughts, our old desires, our old habits, and put on a totally new appearance, transformed by the abiding love of God and energized by the Holy Spirit. This newness of life will certainly prompt people to ask us about the hope that resides within us (1 Peter 3:15).

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Satisfied By God's Love

 

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.&rdquo ”

—Psalm 90:14

Of all the qualities of life that might possibly bring satisfaction, only God’s unfailing love can truly satisfy the needs in our hearts and lives to the fullest extent.

The Psalmist captured this reality when he wrote these words recorded in Psalm 90:14:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

As we begin a new day, let’s stop looking for something to satisfy the needs of our hearts, minds, and lives apart from God’s magnificent love.

Anton Armstrong conducts the magnificent St. Olaf College Choir singing a hymn written by an Anonymous author that expresses the truly marvelous love that God willingly gives to those He has chosen to belong to Himself.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

"I Know What Love Is"

 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

—1 Corinthians 13:13

Shriners Hospitals for Children—a network of 22 non-profit medical facilities across North America that provides care and services, in a family-centered environment, for children who have orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate deformities, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay—has flooded the cable television channels with a promotional video that asks the question: “What is love?” In case you haven’t seen this video, you can find it here:

In contrast, many reading this blog post will likely remember one of the more pivotal lines in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump: “Jenny, I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.” And, of course, Forrest goes on to prove this fact in a deeply moving and self-sacrificing way, as Jenny eventually succumbs to cancer.

On this Valentine’s Day, there is no more fitting expression of genuine love—a love that surpasses all other possible love—than the words written by the Apostle Paul and recorded in 1 Corinthians 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This love, this God-breathed love—for Paul uses the New Testament Greek word “agape” throughout this chapter—has a grippingly surpassing quality that sends a lightning bolt through the hearts of believers—a lightning bolt that makes Cupid’s arrow wither away like a shriveled leaf in the fall of the year. No romantic love, no deep friendship, no sexual attraction can even come close to the depth, width, breadth, and height of this God-breathed love.

That God lovingly places this love inside the hearts and minds of those He has called to Himself is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. And yet, it is truly one of His greatest gifts, apart from the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, in our behalf.

This day—this special day—let’s grab onto this God-breathed love and allow it to become the true and full expression of our gift of love to our beloved. In so doing, we fulfill the law of Christ and meet the desperate needs of a troubled world.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Alive to God

 

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

—Romans 6:6-7

The most dramatic occurrence in the entire Bible takes place three days after Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified on a cruel Roman cross of torture. On the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead. In so doing He conquered sin, death, and Satan. He was the one and only person who died and was raised from the dead to never die again.

In our lives as followers of Jesus, we begin our quest in this earthly life with the sin stain of Adam infecting us with godlessness. As we grow and mature, we begin to sin on our own. Ask the parents of a newborn when that child begins to show signs of disobedience. In the first disobedient act, that child becomes a willful sinner. The sin nature we inherited is so ingrained in us that we simply cannot help but sin.

When God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal to us that He loves us, that He has made provision to forgive our sins through the shedding of the life blood of His one and only Son, and when He enables us to understand that before the foundation of the earth He chose us to belong to Himself, our new life begins. We move from being dead in our trespasses and sin to becoming more and more alive in God through Christ.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 6:6-7:

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Once we surrender our sinful wills to God’s perfect will for us, we join in the crucifixion of our Lord. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

As we begin another new day, let’s acknowledge with great joy that we, too, have been crucified with Christ. And, because of this, we have been set free from the power of sin. We truly can experience the reality of Romans 6:6-7 in our lives this day: dead to sin, but alive to God.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

An Undivided Heart

 

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

—Ezekiel 11:19

Life often challenges us by requiring us to make a myriad of choices. We base those choices on two main components: the facts surrounding the choices and our feelings about those facts. Thus, every choice involves facts and feelings. It’s sometimes difficult to sort out which should become the dominating factor in our decision making.

When I was in seventh grade, I met a girl at church camp in July. She was a petite blond and I was instantly taken by her. I had previously had very poor experiences relating to females. So, I expected that, as had always happened in the past, this girl would not respond well to me.

Nevertheless, I made an effort to talk with her and soon found her willing to engage in conversation. When the week of camp ended, she gave me her address and invited me to write to her, which I did. We corresponded several times during the next few months.

In December, I attended a conference-wide youth retreat and this girl was there, too. She greeted me as someone she was glad to see and asked if she could sit with me. I was glad to see her and was surprised during the first session of the retreat when she reached down and took my hand in hers.

Over lunch, she told me that she really liked me and thought it was fun to have a long-distance boyfriend. None of her girlfriends had such a relationship. And, she told me she felt it made her special.

We continued to correspond with each other. Soon, another summer rolled around and we both agreed to attend a weekend retreat at the church camp where we had met.

As had happened in the previous December, at first she seemed genuinely glad to see me. She even gave me a hug, something that had never happened to me before. We spent most of the first day together. But then, I noticed she seemed to drift away. Soon, I saw her talking to a very handsome and athletic young man. Before long, she was sitting with him during sessions of the retreat. It was as if I had disappeared.

Naturally, I tried to talk with her about it. But, she acted like I was afflicted with a fatal disease. Needless to say, I was confused and hurt.

About a week after I arrived home, I received a letter from her. She explained that she was torn. She claimed to really like me. But, she also was very attracted to the new boy she had met. She acknowledged that she liked me because I was smart. But, the new boy was handsome and athletic, two qualities I most certainly did not have. I wrote back a fairly neutral letter encouraging her to follow her heart. And, I never heard from her again. In fact, I never saw her again at any conference youth retreats or summer camp.

Of course, this was just a silly teenage romance. Most of you probably have had more than one of these kinds of experiences. In my case, this was a very new experience for me. But, it illustrated to me how choices are influenced by facts and by feelings.

In our relationship with God, and with each other, it’s important that we build our relationships on facts and our feelings about those facts. But, we need to guard our hearts and avoid any circumstance that might cause us to experience unnecessary self-conflict in our decision making. In other words, we must approach life with a single-mindedness that makes certain our heart is pointing us in a proper direction.

God spoke through the Prophet Ezekiel, as recorded in Ezekiel 11:19, and gave this promise to God’s people:

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Having an undivided heart is a really important quality for Christians to strive to accept. God wants us to love Him with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. He wants us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He wants us to have a singular purpose in our lives: to serve Him with all of our energy and strength.

Let’s ask God this day to give us undivided hearts. Let’s depend on the new spirit that God freely gives us to remove any stony covering on our hearts and receive His gift of hearts of flesh that can love in purity and holiness.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Love, a Gift from God

 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

—1 John 4:7

This week begins a week dedicated to “love” and “sweethearts.” No matter how we may have treated our loved ones during the past twelve months, suddenly we’re encouraged by our materialistic society to go all out in purchasing expressions of love. Valentine’s Day will find many of us spending money on flowers, candy, jewelry, cards, and other gifts, in an attempt to let someone know how much that one is loved.

Just so that you know, I’m not against Valentine’s Day at all. In fact, if anything, I am a hopeless romantic. I’m probably the oddest man on earth because, generally speaking, I loathe sports and greatly enjoy the movies on the Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. So, even though I believe I have a pretty good understanding of what the true motivating factor is for Valentine’s Day, I am not opposed to expressing love to someone I care deeply about.

In the spiritual realm, God-breathed love is not shown by the purchase of gifts on a specific day. Rather, an expression of God-given love for our brothers and sisters in Christ comes from a movement within the very core of our beings that is prompted by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle John urged those receiving his first letter to latch onto such a love and freely express it to one’s fellow believers. Notice what John wrote, as recorded in 1 John 4:7:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

In this verse, as rendered in the New Testament Greek language, the Apostle uses various forms of the word “agape”—God-breathed love. This is a love that a human cannot create for himself or herself. It is a love that only comes from God through the Holy Spirit. God literally breathes this love into the heart of His chosen humans.

This love is a love that surpasses any other form of love. It is a love that bears the test of time. It is a love that accepts others as they are. It is a love that reaches out to help those in need. It is a love that grows deeper with the passing of days. It is a love that never fails.

As we begin this new day and this new week where minds are turned toward expressions of love, let’s not lose sight of the fact that we who follow Christ have a particular joy that comes from allowing God-breathed love to flow into us, and then, flow out of us into the lives of those who cross the pathway of our lives.

In my mind, this is a much better love than any Valentine’s Day expression could ever be.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Timing is Everything

 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”

—Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Did you ever have an experience where something absolutely wonderful happened to you and you realized that you were just in the right place at the right time?

In a previous blog post, I shared this story which aptly illustrates the point I wish to make:

When I first matriculated to Houghton College in the fall of 1965, I arrived on campus—like everyone else in my class—as a lowly freshman. While I was very familiar with the College, since it was only 75 minutes away from my home, since I had visited many times over the years, and since I was dating a woman, who was now a junior, and had been for the two previous years, I still had no status whatsoever.

I gravitated to the college radio station, WJSL. In fact, my junior class “Big Brother,” with whom I had corresponded over the summer, was the elected manager of the station. So, when I walked in the door, my reputation as someone who had six years of previous experience in commercial radio had preceded me.

The first person I met was another junior at the college and the only other person on the college radio station staff who had previous commercial radio experience. Needless to say, he and I became friends and eventually did a nightly radio program together called “Music ’til Midnight.” (I am very grateful to say that we remain friends to this day.)

Sitting in the daily Chapel Service—attendance required every Tuesday through Friday at 11:00 a.m.—I began to notice that the John and Charles Wesley Memorial Chapel/Auditorium was having problems with the sound system. All of a sudden, in the middle of the service, the system would go completely dead. The sound control booth was uniquely located in the very front of the auditorium, to the left of, and on a level above, the proscenium-less stage. Through the double glass, I could see people scurrying around inside.

Just as suddenly as the sound went off, it would come back on with a blast of feedback. Naturally, I wondered what was wrong. But, I was a lowly freshman and had no connection with anyone in authority to whom I might offer my services.

A couple of weeks later, I got a message to please see the Assistant Business Manager. I later learned he had gotten my name from the student manager of the campus radio station.

The next day, I went to office of the Assistant Business Manager. He asked if I had experience with sound systems. I described some of the activities on which I had previously worked: the commercial radio station, chief engineer for the local theater company in my hometown, and sound system work for my school and special events. He asked me if I would take a look at the system in the Chapel to see if I could find out what was wrong with it.

So, I arranged to visit that control booth when the auditorium was vacant.

Eventually, as I played some music through the system, it went dead. As I was poking around in the back of the several racks of audio gear, I suddenly stood up and hit my head on a little subassembly that had been attached to the side of the rack. With a blast of sound, the system came back to life.

I examined the subassembly and discovered a potentiometer (volume control) that someone had rigged up to control the level to the main audio feed for the system. It was full of dust. I used my handy spray can of cleaner to remove the dust. And, as if by a miracle, I “fixed” the problem. I later learned the College electricians had spent many hours trying to troubleshoot the problem that I fixed in about twenty minutes.

Was I some kind of genius? Of course not! I was just there at the right time and stumbled onto the cause of a long-standing problem.

You see, timing is everything. As a result, the Assistant Business Manager hired me to serve as Director of Auditorium Operations, a job I held for the rest of my years in college.

In the most minor, and the most significant, events in life, timing is everything.

Thus it is now and thus it has always been. Observe what King Solomon wrote, as he neared the end of his life, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

The question we believers must ask ourselves at the beginning of this new day: “For what is the right time today?” In other words, what experience does God have lined up for us today? In His perfect timing, what wonderful experience awaits us, just around the corner?

If we approach today with a hopeful expectation, God will not disappoint us. He always has our best interest in mind. He will lead us along the pathway He has laid out before us. And, His timing is always perfect.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Never-failing Compassion

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

—Lamentations 3:22-23

Do sad images on television tug at your heart? They tug at mine. When I see an advertisement for a child in need, or a pet that’s been abused, my heart breaks. When I hear a news story about a family who has lost everything in a fire, inwardly I weep for their loss.

I have often been accused of being too sentimental, too soft-hearted, too saccharine. I must plead guilty. I have always been quick to identify with the sadness or misfortune of others. And, as I have gotten older, I am no longer ashamed that God made me this way.

In writing his tales of woe, the Prophet Jeremiah turns a brighter light on a characteristic of God that we should all admire. Jeremiah writes these words in Lamentations 3:22-23:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

No matter how things may affect us, we can learn from the God who loves us that compassion has great power in one’s life. Because God remains always compassionate, He is able to love us even though we are not lovable. In fact, God’s compassion is one of His qualities that is renewed every day.

As we begin another day, let’s learn from this attribute of God and apply it to our own lives. Let’s live as a compassionate people, always quick to show God’s love to others and to identify with their sorrows, as well as with their joys.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Continually Renewed Self

 

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

—Colossians 3:9-10

Have you noticed that certain activities we do require us to repeat them over and over again? If you are someone who takes a great deal of pride in the state of your vehicle—so that you wash it frequently, wax it quite often, vacuum out the inside, and make certain it receives all of the service listed in the manual that resides in the glove compartment—you know you must repeat these tasks many times in the course of a year.

The work of God that moves believers along the pathway of spiritual formation that will lead to holiness is also something that is best seen as an on-going process. Theologians call that process “sanctification.” This word means “to make holy.” So, believers are moving forward along this pathway of sanctification on a continuing basis.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was trying to convey when he wrote these words found in Colossians 3:9-10:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

In this case, the declaration, “Do not lie to each other” means, “Don’t try to pretend who you are.” Don’t act one way when you are with your fellow believers and another way when you are out in the world.

Paul urges the people in the church at Colossae to be who they have now become by embracing the reality that God has given them a new self that is continually being renewed. The construction of the word in the New Testament Greek language that is translated “renew” indicates an action that takes place over and over and over again.

As we begin a new day, let’s ask God to help us be who we really are. He has made us new and is continually renewing us, as we move toward holiness. We should feel very grateful for God’s love and care. We should celebrate, in all humility, the pathway He has placed us on for the sake of His Kingdom and His great name.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Where Do We Find Peace?

 

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

—Psalm 29:11

As we come to this new day of the week, we can either look forward with hope or hold back in with despair. It’s so easy to become weighed down with the cares of the world. If we do not face challenges in our own lives, we might see those dear to us facing trials that break our hearts. We feel that without peace—true peace—we can hardly move forward into this new day.

Yet, God understands our needs in a way that goes far beyond our ability to comprehend. King David expresses these comforting thoughts, as recorded in Psalm 29:11:

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

When we feel we can hardly go on, God reminds us that He is the source of our strength. He is the giver of our peace. We can move into the new day with confidence that He will sustain us and provide a safe haven of rest for our body, minds, souls, and spirits.

Let’s cling to His abiding love, unfailing grace, overwhelming mercy, divine strength, and spirit-restoring peace. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-32:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Yes! Indeed!

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Play Skillfully

 

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

—Psalm 33:3

I am not a fan of praise music-type worship services. But, I have reached this decision for a reason that may surprise you. First, some backgroud…

I believe that God is a God of Excellence. When I look at what He created—albeit I am looking at what He created in its fallen state—I see glimmers of a level of excellence that far exceeds what some would consider an acceptable expression of mediocrity. From this understanding, I see that God does all that He does with excellence. So, I conclude that part of my devotion to Him involves doing my very best to do, whatever I do, with excellence.

Of course, as a fallen and foible-filled human being, I make many mistakes. My sin nature virtually precludes my ability to do everything with excellence. Yet, I still continue to strive for excellence. This involves making certain I have the skill set to do a task, that I understand the knowledge I must have to perform my duties, and that I have practiced my craft so that I can make as much excellence as possible a part of what I do.

Therefore, believing that God desires excellence, I approach worship with a critical eye, looking for ways to assure that whatever is done to glorify God is done with excellence.

Did someone take the time to carefully plan the worship service, so that each element in that service coordinates with a worship theme for the day that enhances the sermon the minister will preach? Did the people participating in the worship service practice what they are going to do or say, in order to help assure that nothing will distract from the central message of their ministering to the congregation. This means that everyone involved will avoid last minute, haphazard changes to the worship service. And, it means that the ones in charge must lovingly and carefully counsel those people who do not take their role seriously, so that they will understand how important it is to do their very best for the glory of God.

When it comes to music in the worship service, does that music spring from a theological foundation that will help move those who worship forward in their spiritual formation? Or, does the music simply tug on their emotions and create a response similar to the one they would receive if they attended any musical performance outside the walls of the church? Does the music involve the congregation and promote their eager participation? Or, does the music serve to spotlight only a few individual “performers” to the exclusion of the larger congregation?

Does the music connect those who worship with the historic faith and to fellow believers from across the ages? Or, does the music merely appeal to some current cultural “hook” that will soon be replaced by some other cultural preference?

Do those leading the music keep the focus on God? Or, do they delight in the limelight and garner praise for themselves?

Most importantly, do the musicians have the skill to lead the congregation with excellence? And, it is at this point that I take a turn to which many will likely object.

I happen to personally enjoy a rather wide variety of musical genres. I have a rich background in what some call “serious” music—that is to say, what many would call “classical” music, though the term “classical” actually only applies to one period of time in the history of music. I also have a rich background in other musical genres: big band, jazz, classic rock, adult contemporary, country, and many more. I appreciate the artistry of each genre. And, unlike some of my serious music friends, I see the professionalism and excellence in the skill of many of the artists who perform each musical genre.

When it comes to church music, I actually have no objection to any musical genre that meets the criteria I stated earlier in this blog post: music that springs from a theological foundation that will help move those who worship forward in their spiritual formation. But, no matter what musical genre, I expect those providing the music to do so with genuine excellence.

If a church chooses to provide a basically traditional music style—as the church I currently attend does—then I expect each musician to be well-trained in that genre and to execute the music with professionalism and excellence. This means that the organist must be well-educated in service playing, understand registrations, be an excellent accompanist, as well as an excellent soloist, be well-rehearsed, and recognize the role of leadership that the organist plays in such a worship experience. I expect similar qualities if the accompanist is part of an orchestra or is a pianist.

Similarly, the choral group (or choir) must consist of musicians with well-honed skill, preferably some members with professional training, understand that they must blend into a unified sound and not seek personal attention, and recognize their role in both performing as a group and in leading the congregation as it joins in singing.

When it comes to contemporary Christian music in a praise music worship service, far too few musicians actually have the professional training and skill to perform this music with the level of excellence that the genre demands. Meeting for 45 minutes before the worship service begins, to run through some of the selections, does not constitute the level of rehearsal necessary to perform this genre of music in an excellent manner. How many of the musicians rehearse on their own on a daily basis? How many strive to constantly improve their skill at playing their chosen instruments? How many take lessons from a teacher who pushes them toward excellence?

Just because someone can play a few chords on the guitar does not mean that he or she should be performing in a praise team. And, how many praise teams realize that they are not performing a concert, but are—or at least should be—leading a congregation to participate in worship?

I realize there are churches where they are fortunate to have professionally trained and well-rehearsed musicians to participate in the praise band. But, sadly, so many smaller churches who have jumped on the contemporary music bandwagon—thinking that this style of music makes them “relevant” to today’s culture—simply do not have musicians in their ranks with the skill to perform this genre with excellence.

“Well, Pops,” some Millennial or GenX-er might say, “that’s quite a rant you wrote there. It sounds to me like the same old-fogey talk that I’ve heard from people like you all my life.”

That may be so. Nevertheless, I have come to these conclusions after giving this matter a great deal of thought and not a small amount of research and study. I actually believe the striving for relevance is a “straw man” created by the evil one to distract us from the calling God has given us to represent Him to a fallen world. But, I also believe that I have the weight of Scripture on my side when I look at what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 33:3:

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine that we will do with excellence whatever God calls us to do. As long as we are ever-striving to do the very best we are able to do, surely God will receive our accomplishments as a sweet-smelling incense, rising from the altar of our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Caring By Sharing

 

“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

—Deuteronomy 24:19

In our current left-leaning society, I have two strikes against me. I am a lifelong Conservative. And, I am an Evangelical Christian. I would be hard pressed to obtain employment at virtually any secular college or university. I am scorned in the press. I am constantly abused by liberal pundits in the broadcast media. I am derided, despised, and generally treated as a third-class citizen because of my strongly held beliefs.

I am also grossly misunderstood by liberals who do not know me. Contrary to their characterizations of me—and most people who hold similar beliefs to mine—I am not a racist. I am not homophobic. I am not xenophobic. I am not a sexist—in fact, I have championed and celebrated the cause of women joining my chosen profession, fire protection engineering, all my career. I do not hate the poor. I do not favor the wealthy. Virtually every slur that is hurled my way is false. And, I am certain I am not alone.

I have many friends who are Conservatives and Evangelical Christians who also feel abused by our secular, liberal society. We are falsely accused and imagine that our plight will only worsen over time. We feel ignored, despised, belittled, marginalized, and hated.

That’s why this particular verse of Scripture is so precious to those of us who, like me, are Conservative and Evangelical Christian. This verse is one of many instructions by God to His chosen people, the Jews. It embodies a principal that I heartily embrace. Here’s what God said, as recorded in Deuteronomy 24:19:

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

This is a verse about sharing—sharing the fruits of our labors. God wants us to share the work of our hands (and minds and hearts) with those in need. The individuals mentioned in this verse did nothing to “deserve” this largesse. They did not till the soil. They did not plant the seed. They did not weed the ground. They did not harvest the grain. Yet, God asks the ones who did perform all those hard tasks to share the bounty of their labors with those less fortunate than they are.

While we “Christ’s-ones” are no longer under the Law, but under the Covenant of God’s grace, we still can learn a valuable lesson from this verse. In fact, because we Christians are grafted into the vine of God’s chosen people (Romans 11:11-24), we can blessedly own this verse and follow its instruction.

You see—liberal pundits who hate us so please take note—we Evangelical Christians fully believe that all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God. Therefore, we believe that we have a responsibility to do as God instructs. So, if God tells us to share the fruits of our labors with those in need, that is exactly what we intend to do.

Now, we may not at all agree with the way secular society decides to implement help for the poor. But, that is a discussion for another day. We stand firmly on the fact that instead of hating the poor and needy, we Evangelical Christians stand ready, willing, and able to show our caring by sharing. And, sharing is exactly what we do through countless rescue missions, homeless shelters, retirement communities, unwed mother care homes, and a score of other community efforts supported by Evangelical Christians across this land and around the world.

As we begin a new day, let’s pray for those who despise us and not be surprised at the way they choose to treat us. Did not Jesus tell us what to expect in Matthew 5:11? No matter what others may say about us or do to us, we can remain faithful to the calling that God has placed on our lives. We can show the compassion of our Savior to everyone in need. And, we can do so knowing that we are being obedient to God’s command.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}