Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

You Can Be as Close to God as You Want to Be

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“I believe, but I don’t feel close to God like some of you. Not sure why. I’d like to.”

My friend’s words caused me to think of my own faith journey.

In Sunday School my young heart warmed toward God when I heard the stories of David and Goliath and Zacchaeus, the wee little man. My grandmother made sure I treated God with respect. No food in my mouth when we blessed our meal.

But I’d never thought of myself as a sinner in need of saving. I wasn’t even sure what people were saved from. At youth camp that changed when a youth leader explained John 3:16.Continue Reading

The Power of One Act for Good or for Evil

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A neighborhood child, I’ll call Abby, who was also in my daughter’s first grade class, showed the effect of one person’s sin. Abby’s father left her mother—and her—for another woman. Abby’s anger and hurt spilled out on the neighborhood children and her classmates.

Who did this man’s adultery hurt? His wife and child obviously grieved. But my children also suffered. The sin committed by a man we’d never met disrupted our neighborhood and his daughter’s classroom.

Believing we can corral the consequences of our private sins is like throwing a flaming, gasoline-soaked rag into an apartment and being astonished when the whole building burns down. Continue Reading

Are You the One Jesus Loves?

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Do you see yourself as “the one Jesus loves”? That may sound self-absorbed, but I believe it shows faith. The Apostle John repeatedly referred to himself as “the one Jesus loved.” See John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 20. Any of the disciples could have used this description. Jesus loved them all (Jn. 13:1). But John personalized Jesus’ love. Jesus loved John!

Too often, I hear Christians emphasizing where we fall short. After hearing a message, many leave feeling beat up instead of built up. Focusing on our sin instead of on God’s gift of righteousness undermines the message of grace and the role of faith. This works-centered focus promotes a self-centered life instead of Christ-centered one.

The Apostle Paul wrote,

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (italics added; Rom. 1:17 NIV).

It’s illogical to tell unbelievers we are “saved by grace through faith” and then tell ourselves we are accepted on the basis of our performance. Continue Reading

How to Speak God’s Love Language

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“My husband doesn’t show me love,” the distraught woman before me complained. Her husband was a good provider, maintained her car without being asked, vacuumed the house, and cleaned up after supper. But acts of service were not her love language. Because she longed for quality time this woman didn’t recognize her husband’s actions as demonstrations of love.

A hunger to express and experience love runs through the human DNA. Considering this made me wonder if that need extends to our relationship with God. If so, what are some ways to enhance this love relationship? Does God have a love language?

Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate captivated millions of readers. Hebrews 11:6 shows faith is God’s love language.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV).

Did you catch the reciprocal nature of faith as described in this verse? Continue Reading

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