Keep Your Hair In Tact!

 

“‘Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart…’”

—Joel 2:12b

Not long ago, I heard a woman say to her friend: “I was so upset I could tear my hair out!”

When I was a small boy, I often heard my Uncle Ed make this statement. For quite a long time, whenever I saw a man with thinning hair, I thought that the man was probably upset a lot and had torn his hair out. Now that I’ve become a bald old man, I know that I did not tear out my own hair—at least I don’t think I did.

In ancient Israel, it was common to signal remorse by tearing ones clothing. Some even put on garments made from a very coarse cloth—the kind used to make sacks for grain—and sit in the cold ashes from yesterday’s cooking fire. Thus the phrase: “He put on sackcloth and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3) But, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of behavior that needs to change, we should take the advice from the Prophet Joel who recorded God’s words in Joel 2:12-13:

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

God always welcomes our repentance with open arms of love. Let us be quick to respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. When we need to repent, let’s quickly repent. Instead of tearing our clothes, or tearing out our hair, let’s go to God in prayer, repent of our sins, and ask Him to forgive our sins for the sake of His dearly loved Son, Jesus.

 

Originally posted on Monday, February 2, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Span of Our Lives

 

“From birth I have relied on you…”

—Psalm 71:6

“How would I describe my life?” I’ve been thinking about this question a lot over the course of the last nearly six months. You see, back in early August, I celebrated my 76th birthday. Even after all this intervening time, I haven’t fully formed an answer yet to the question: “How would I describe the span of my life?”

As you might imagine, there are things I have done that I greatly regret. There are things that I left undone that I also greatly regret. There are even a few things that I have done that I am so very grateful to God, who opened up the way for me to do them.

But, in thinking about this question—“How would I describe my life?”—in light of what God teaches us in His written Word, I’m seriously leaning in the direction of the thoughts expressed by the Psalmist from Psalm 71:6, 8-9:

From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

I will ever praise you. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

Yes, that describes the direction I want to pursue, as I consider how to sum up the span of my life so far. I certainly have learned to rely on God. Even as a relatively young boy, I had a sense that God loved me and was in the process of laying out a plan for my life. While I could never have predicted the pathway my life would take, I had a calm assurance that God was preparing a straight path for me to follow.

Then, in 1998 when my health began to fail, and especially when my mobility became more and more impaired, while I didn’t particularly enjoy what was happening to me, deep down in the core of my being I sincerely believed—and continue to believe—that what was happening to me was a part of God’s plan for my life.

Oh, I still complain to Him from time to time—almost every day, in fact. I even become quite irritated and distressed that I cannot do the things that I once did with ease. But, underneath all of my disappointment and even discouragement at times, I still know that God is at work in my life “to will and to work for His good pleasure” ( Philippians 2:13).

I want to make certain, particularly in these last years of my life, that my mouth is filled more with praise than with complaining. I want to be quick to acknowledge that all I am and all I have has come to me as a precious gift from God—a gift that, quite frankly, I do not deserve.

Let me be so bold as to suggest this admonition for all of us:

“May we lift our voices in praise to God this day: first and foremost because of who He is—the all-powerful God of the Universe. And then, let’s praise Him because He loves us and has given us His Son as our Savior and Lord.”

Surely, if we praise Him as we should, He will prove Himself gloriously faithful to the very end of the span of our lives here on earth. Yes, God’s love will prevail all the way to end of our lives here on earth and beyond.

 

Originally posted on Friday, January 30, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What Do We Desire?

 

“The unfolding of your words gives light…”

—Psalm 119:130

What do we desire most in life? Wealth, fame, or power? Health, strength, or talent? Something else? Maybe we are more selfless and wish for our families to experience the fullness of everything this life has to offer? Or, perhaps we desire world peace, the eradication of poverty, or wealth redistribution? In contrast, notice the stated desire of the Psalmist, when he wrote these words found in Psalm 119:130, 132-133:

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Here the Psalmist strives for values that seize the best in this life and also reach beyond this temporal world and into the spiritual world. The Psalmist prizes obedience to God’s will and obedience to the principles expressed in God’s written Word.

As we begin this day, let us direct our desires toward eternal values. Let us reach beyond our selfish, temporal desires and determine to follow the pathway of obedience that God has given us.

 

Originally posted on Thursday, January 29, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Call to God and He Will Answer

 

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

—Jeremiah 33:3

Have you ever tried to talk with someone who doesn’t appear to answer you? Perhaps you feel that your husband, or wife, or teens do that to you all the time? Okay. But I’m talking about a time when you were in danger or needed help right away. Did the person hearing your cry for help ignore you?

You see, God is not like that. He is always listening for our voices. His great love for us prompts Him to be attentive to our prayers—to our cries for help. Notice what the Prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 33:2-3:

This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

We should take great comfort from knowing God is always listening for the sound of our voices. He will always respond to our cries for help.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, January 28, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Trials We May Face

 

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.”

—Psalm 119:163b

Everyone faces trying circumstances at one time or another in his or her life. Sometimes the trial is minor. Sometimes the trial is life-shattering.

In reading the longest Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119, we can see that the Psalmist felt his enemies were closing in on him. He alternates between lament and praise. But praise for the faithfulness of God always wins out over the Psalmist’s laments. Here’s Psalm 119:163-168:

I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.

I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.

No matter what condition in which we we find ourselves this new day, God loves us, listens to our cry for help, and responds in the way that is best for us—just as He did in the trouble‑filled days of the Psalmist. Because of God’s unfailing mercy, grace, and love, we can face whatever may confront us this day.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Attitudes of Blessing

 

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

—Matthew 5:1

I’ve heard many sermons on the introductory verses to Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount.” On one particular Sunday, I heard a pastor, whom I greatly respect, preach a very different take on these statements of our Lord. ¹

Sharing his insights, with support from an analysis of this passage by the late Dallas Willard, this pastor urged the congregation to read these verses in Matthew 5, not as “attitudes” to which they should aspire and emulate, but rather as a list of normal human conditions into which God would pour His divine blessing.

Rather than attempting to adopt each attitude in order receive a blessing, every individual should accept the truth that in whatever condition one might find himself or herself, he or she is already greatly blessed by God. Out of His inexhaustible mercy, grace, and love, God chooses to bless those who belong to Him, in spite of the external circumstances of their lives.

Let me suggest you read these familiar verses with this new interpretation in mind. Here’s Matthew 5:1-12:

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

No matter what circumstances may arise in our lives, God pours out His blessing on those of us He has chosen to belong to Himself. Let us take heart this day! God loves us and will bless our inner beings with every available spiritual blessing. No matter what is happening on the outside of our lives, God is at work within us to fill our lives full-to-overflowing with His choicest blessings.

 

______________________
¹ Special thanks to Pastor Rick J. Crocker, at the time of this sermon Executive Director of the Erie City Mission, for preaching this powerful message on August 3, 2014, at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Erie, PA.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, January 26, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

For All Appearances

 

“Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

—1 Samuel 16:6b

“Here’s lookin’ at you, kid!” With those words, one of the most memorable scenes from the movie “Casablanca” is capped with an expression of ultimate approval. It’s as if Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, has passed judgment and given his nod of acceptance and approval to Ilsa Lund, played by actress Ingrid Bergman.

This somewhat curt and unique phrase raises an intersting question: “How do you judge a person?” I’m quite serious. I’m asking you—yes you: “How do you judge a person?”

Our culture places an enormous emphasis on how someone looks. Everyone—from elementary school children to men and women in their eighties—is challenged by our culture to “manage” how he or she appears to others.

We live in a highly judgmental society. We applaud people who look a certain way and look down on people who don’t meet the standard imposed by our culture. Please let me offer a very personal observation.

Because I have always been very obese, all of my life I’ve been subjected to discrimination due to the way I look. I could tell you many stories that, looking back from this point in my life, have some really humorous elements to them—but, in fact, these incidents were very hurtful to me at the time.

Add to the “turn off” my physical appearance provides, I am also very socially inept. I’m reasonably intelligent, but I never really learned how to relate to other people. My Concrete-Sequential Mind Style^™ often leads me to say things that appear too blunt or harsh. Even though I care deeply for certain people, in general I’ve been told that I come across to the majority of people as quite off‑putting. Many people who may begin a casual relationship with me soon head for the hills. Most often, all through my life, I have been judged as not worthy to be included—not fitting in, as it were.

Having now reached old age, I take a great deal of comfort in the fact that such a judgmental perspective is not new. Rather, like many things that a person may endure over a long period of time, I’ve grown very used to how many people react to me. In fact, I have learned to take comfort from these few verses from 1 Samuel 16:1-7:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.”

Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.'”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Of course there is much more to this intriguing account of the ultimate anointing of the shepherd-boy, David. He will become king over Israel, replacing King Saul, who had sinned against God. But notice this key truth: “God does not measure our value and worth by our outward appearance. Instead, God looks at our hearts.” And that, dear ones, is really great news. Especially for someone like me.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, January 23, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Joyful Shout

 

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.”

—Psalm 100:1

Whenever believers gather for worship, some contemporary Christian songs call the Church to praise and to the adoration of our Lord. Such a song is “Shout to the Lord” written by Darlene Zschech out of Hillsong Church in Australia:

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

My Jesus, My Savior,
Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

This worship song is based on what the Psalmist declared as a day of praise in Psalm 100:1-5:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

This day, let us look forward to the next time we will gather with others of like precious faith and worship the God who loves us with His unfailing love! In case you’re not familiar with the song mentioned above, here’s one version of it from a Hillsong worship service:

 

 

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, January 22, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Matter of Trust

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

—Proverbs 3:5-6

What do you do when you’ve done all you can do and there’s just no more that you can do? King Solomon offers this answer from Proverbs 3:5-10:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Now that sounds like excellent advice to me! And, it clearly gives direction as to what we must do when we’ve done everything we can possibly do on our own. Because God loves us with an infinte love, He always proves trustworthy. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, as we read, study, and meditate on God’s written Word, will give us exactly the guidance we need for each day. How fortunate we truly are that we can trust and rely on the God who loves us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The End Result

 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

—1 Peter 1:3

From time to time, as I think back on the years of my life and consider whether or not I have been as faithful a servant as I had wished to be, and as I look forward to the very few years I am likely to remain alive, a 1966 melody wafts through my brain. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and recorded by a number of artists including Cilla Black, Cher, and Dionne Warwick. It was entitled simply “Alfie” and was specifically written as the theme song for a movie by the same name.

This song has a haunting melody and the opening line asks the question: “What’s it all about, Alfie?” In those long-ago days of the mid-1960s, countless radio station airplays cemented this tune in the minds of the listening public. I never saw the movie, but I wonder if the first part of the question this song asks doesn’t trouble many people today: “What’s it all about?”

The Apostle Peter opens his first letter by answering that question for those who believe in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin this new day, let’s meditate on what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-9:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

That is clearly the answer to the question: “What’s it all about?” Praise God!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, January 20, 20157

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Righ Place is Right Here

 

“What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

—Mark 5:7

Sometimes we wonder whether we are in the right place—the place where God can best use us. To answer that question, we can learn from this account found in Mark 5:1-20:

Jesus and the disciples went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon‑possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

That’s quite a story, isn’t it? When the man healed from demon possession asked Jesus if he could join the band of wandering disciples, Jesus told him to go home and give a testimony of what God had done in his life to every one who would listen.

That’s a good word for us to consider today, for our own walk with God. Unless God instructs us otherwise, we’re to stay right where God has planted us and share, with the very people who cross the pathway of our lives, the good news of what He has done in and through us.

Let’s make a bold decision today to follow the instruction that Jesus gave to the man who was healed. In as gentle and as loving a way possible, let’s gladly share the miracle of God's mercy, grace, and love with the people who inhabit our lives.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, January 19, 20157

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Making the Right Choice

 

“My son, do not forget my teaching…”

—Proverbs 3:1

Almost daily, we come to forks in the road of our lives. Which path will we choose to follow?

Sometimes, the choice is made for us. Other times, there are more than one choice that could prove beneficial to us. Still other times, one path leads to a long-term positive outcome, while another path might give us more instant pleasure. Knowing how to make the right choice is a challenge we each face, almost on a daily basis. King Solomon offers these words of wisdom from Proverbs 3:1-4:

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

It is important that we remember God’s teaching through His written Word. As we read, study, and meditate on passages of Scripture from the Bible, the Holy Spirit will often draw our attention to the truth we need for a particular day. Obedience to this teaching will protect us from Satan’s evil intrusion into our lives. It will keep us from taking the wrong fork in our life’s road.

If we remain obedient to God’s precious written Word and yield to the guidance of the in‑dwelling Holy Spirit, we can live in true peace and security. As we begin each day of our lives, let us remember to obey, so that we may live our lives to the glory of God.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, January 16, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Mystery We Cannot Comprehend

 

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

—John 1:12

The process through which God reconciles sinful humans to Himself remains a great mystery in so many aspects. Why would God choose to do this? I don’t know. We humans—beginning with first man, Adam—surely have done nothing whatsoever to make us worthy of God’s love. In fact, having inherited our sin nature from Adam, we continue every day to add a long catalog of sins to the list of trespasses that separate us from God. Yes, God’s love for us is a great mystery.

The Apostle John explores this great mystery when He writes about God’s Son, Jesus, in John 1:10-13:

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Even though, this side of heaven, we will never be able to fully understand the great mystery of God’s redeeming mercy, love, and grace He has extended to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice this day, by means of the power of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit, that God has transformed us from mere “creatures” (creations) to His own dearly loved “children.” Through the shed blood of Jesus, God has forgiven our sins and buried them in the depths of the deepest sea.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, January 15, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Providing a Solid Support

 

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”

—Proverbs 1:8

In almost every case, the ultimate direction of children is set by their parents. Study after study has proven the value of a nuclear family unit, where a devoted and caring father and mother teach solid Judeo-Christian values to their children. This teaching of values is the only protective antidote to counter a society that increasingly celebrates a broadly distorted definition of “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” and purposely ignores certain well-established truths.

Yes, I recognize that some would counter my assertion with reports of the reality of some particular situations, “some family” is better than no family. And, though seemingly quite rare, it is also possible to cite individual cases where non-nuclear families have produced well-adjusted children. But, in both cases, I fear that this “evidence” actually stands as outliers, where truly the “exception proves the rule.”

As Christians within the community of believers, we need to stand ready to help orphans and single-parent families to the maximum of our ability. We need to extend God-breathed love and also practical assistance. We need to provide solid support for these dear ones with strong and caring arms of love. We also need to encourage, value, and celebrate those mothers and fathers who work hard to form and maintain nuclear family units.

King Solomon expressed a worthy sentiment most eloquently in the opening verses of his Book of Wisdom, as recorded in Proverbs 1:8-9:

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Let us pray that, in His mercy and great grace, God will strengthen and preserve our nuclear family units. And, may fathers and mothers teach their children the values of right living through belief the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the life-shaping values that flow from devotion to Him. And, importantly, where our fellowships include orphans and single-parent families, let us do all we can to love them and support them fully.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Brightly Shining Light

 

“You are the light of the world.”

—Matthew 5:14a

When you walk along a path in the dark, you don’t put your flashlight in your pocket. You grip it tightly in your hand, turn the switch to the “on,” position, and walk carefully. You allow the light to reveal the hazards that might block your forward progress. That is exactly what Jesus was telling His followers in Matthew 5:14-16:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

“Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

This new day, let’s not hide the light God has given us through His precious written Word. And, let’s depend on the leading of the in-dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to guide the pathway of our lives. Instead of stumbling in this world’s darkness, let’s declare the goodness of the Lord. Let’s tell the world of God’s mercy, grace, and boundless love. Let’s let the Light of Christ shine brightly through us to illuminate the pathway of a needy world.

If we do this, people who need help finding their way through this ever-darkening world will be drawn to the true Light, and will come to know the life-changing power of our Savior, Lord, and King.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Timing Matters

 

“Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.’”

—Mark 3:11

“Timing is everything!” Have you heard that phrase? I’m quite certain you have. I also imagine that you’ve experienced a number of times in your life when timing played an important role. Please allow me to share an example.

I have a vivid memory of an incident in third grade. I particularly liked one very special little girl in my class. Because we were seated alphabetically, we were often paired to work together. At such times, she seemed to really like me and often laughed at the funny things I would say to her, as we worked on our assignments.

However, when she would play with a group of other little girls at recess, she would ignore me. No matter what I said, she would act like I didn’t even exist.

One day, when she had a group of other girls around her, out of frustration and impatience with not knowing how she really felt about me, I asked her rather loudly, “Do you like me?”

“No!” she replied. “You’re a fat creep!”

I was devastated. Sure enough, as soon as recess ended, the teacher asked us to form our study groups. I was mortified. How could I possibly work with this girl who had just so strongly rejected me.

When we turned our desks around to begin working, she whispered, “You shouldn’t have asked me that question with the other girls around. It wasn’t the right time.”

“Timing is everything.” That phrase helps explain a somewhat mystifying account recorded in Mark 3:7-12:

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Why didn’t Jesus want to acknowledge that He was, indeed, the Son of God? Because His time had not yet come. And, timing is everything.

Well, fortunately we no longer need to conceal the wonderful reality that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Rose of Sharon, the Lilly of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Fairest of Ten Thousand, our Savior, Lord, and King. We can shout from the rooftops that Jesus is Lord of All. This is the Good News that fills the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls with God-breathed love and with great joy. Hallelujah!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, January 12, 20157

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Trusting Fully

 

“Your word, Lord, is eternal…”

—Psalm 119:89a

In our ever-changing culture, most of us would like to find something in which we could put our trust—something we could hold on to that doesn’t change. We’re looking for something “immutable.”

“Immutable”—that’s a word not often used in normal conversation. It means “unchanging over time.” When something is immutable, it has an inherent stability.

In a time when almost everything seems to change, finding something immutable provides an anchor to hold our “ship of life” firmly at rest and able to weather whatever storm may blow against that “ship” and disrupt the flow of our lives. The Psalmist celebrates such an immutable anchor point in Psalm 119:89-90:

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

This day, let us turn our minds and hearts to God’s written Word and find within the pages of the Bible everlasting security in the immutable truth given to us by God through His Holy Spirit, who led those individual servants of God to write down what God told them to write. And, let’s bask in the immutability of God’s unfailing and undying love, as shown to us in His precious written Word.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, January 9, 20157

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Justice Based on Love

 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…”

—Luke 6:27b

For most of my life I’ve been a “beat-’em-with-a-big-stick-of-justice” kind of guy. Recently, I’ve begun to realize that my view of justice does not mesh at all with the view of justice that Jesus expressed in Luke 6:27-36:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

“If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

“And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

“And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

More and more, I’m convinced that when we read Jesus’ words carefully and determine—with the help of the Holy Spirit—to be obedient to this teaching of our Savior and Lord, our lives will change dramatically for the better.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, January 8, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Begin by Praising God

 

“Praise be to his glorious name forever…”

—Psalm 72:19

For me, the best part of worship services has always been the singing of hymns. I particularly like hymns of praise, such as the hymn written by Joachim Neander in 1680 and translated by Catherine Winkworth in 1863:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul praise Him for He is my help and salvation.

A congregation marked by enthusiastic hymn singing always brings joy to my heart and a sense of well being to my soul. I suppose that’s why I look to the Psalms for inspiration at the beginning of each new day. Singing these ancient hymns of praise taught the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, about the wonders and majesty of the God who loves them with His everlasting love.

For example, notice what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 72:18-19:

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

Let us begin this new day, and every new day, with praise to the God who loves us, cares for us, protects us, guides us, and, in turn, fills us full-to-overflowing with His blessed and everlasting love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Refuge Within a Fortress

 

“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge…”

—Psalm 71:1a

When you were in elementary school did you ever build a fort? Growing up in the eastern edge of northwestern Pennsylvania, I used to spend many winter hours building an elaborate snow fort. Since I was the only child on my side of East Main Street, I never had to worry about being attacked by marauding neighborhood children. But, I was certainly ready for any attack. I was safe and secure inside my icy fortress.

Sometimes, when the storms of life increase in ferocity, I often wish I could retreat to the safety of my fort. Apparently, I am in good company. The Palmist seems to share my desire for safety when he writes in Psalm 71:1-3:

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Life always offers challenges. As believers in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, we have the best possible place of refuge: safe in our Savior’s loving arms. Let’s be certain we tell God how grateful we are for His protective care.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, January 6, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Cheering Us Onward

 

“… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

—Hebrews 12:1b

Anyone who engages in a musical performance, or a dramatic presentation, or a sporting event, will tell you what a key role the audience plays. Those who watch you perform will provide a significant boost of energy that greatly enhances your performance.

So it is for we “Christ’s-ones,” as we struggle to follow God’s pathway. A great crowd watches us from heaven. The writer of the letter to the Hebrew Christians explains this in Hebrews 12:1‑3:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Each time we gather for worship, let’s remember the saints who have gone before us and who now abide in the very Presence of our Lord. They are witnesses to our faith journeys. They are cheering us on, as we obediently follow the pathway God has opened up before us. Praise God that we follow His path for us with their enthusiastic support.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, January 5, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Help Me! Help Me, Please!

 

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry”

—Psalm 40:1

When you cry out for help, whom do you hope will respond? The Psalmist answers this question from his perspective in Psalm 40:1-3:

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

God listens with an ear tuned to our cries for help. Why does He do this? Because He loves us with an everlasting, unfailing, undying love.

When you need to cry out for help, take heart! God is listening. He will send help your way—powerful help, love-bound help, perfect overcoming help.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, January 2, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Never-Changing Love

 

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens…”

—Psalm 36:5a

“Life is moving faster than it ever has before.” So writes the author of the gospel song from the 1970s: “Praise the Lord, He never changes.” That author echoes the words of the Psalmist from Psalm 36:5-9:

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.

You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

As we begin another New Year, let us lift our voices in praise this day that the God who loves us with His everlasting love never changes. We may confidently count on Him to always have our best interest in mind. No matter how confusing or troubled things may seem, He gives us light to show us the way forward. And, as a reminder of God’s unchanging love for us, let me suggest that you listen to this gospel song:

 

 

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, January 1, 2015

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}