Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

What Does Faith Look Like?

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What does faith look like? Larry shared an experience that exemplifies faith to me.

Larry wanted to tell a woman, I’ll call Jewel, about Jesus. But an inner restraint said, “Not now.” He prayed this woman would find the Lord and asked God for the right opportunity.

God heard his prayer and began to show Himself to her apart from Larry. One day Jewel brought up God with Larry.

Jewel volunteers in a local Ronald MacDonald Family Room that offers a place for family members of seriously ill children to sleep, shower, and launder their clothes. We can imagine the heartbreaking stress and financial strain of its guests.

One woman arrived and handed $5.00 and a coupon to one of the volunteers and asked her to bring her a tray of food from the hospital cafeteria. The volunteer returned and said she was sorry, but they couldn’t take the coupon and $5 wouldn’t go far there. The woman pocketed her $5 and shrugged. She asked to use the shower.

A man in worn clothes who sat reading a book on prayer overheard the exchange. After a bit, he asked Jewel, “How long will she be in the shower?”Continue Reading

Why It’s Wise to Give Thanks

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Did you know that the Bible says it is wise to give thanks?

So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants… Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephes. 5:17, 20 GW).

I pulled my husband into a jewelry store to look—for fun. When we left, I said, “Did you notice how the jewels sparkled in the showcases? The dark backdrop and lighting set off their splendor.”

Grace is like that. Sometimes it needs the right backdrop before we appreciate its brilliance.

We may overlook the sunshine or take it for granted, if we haven’t endured a cold rainy season. We can also under-appreciate the joys of life if we haven’t walked through sadness and disappointment.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

How to be Assured of Your Salvation

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Can a person know for sure if they are going to heaven? Or do we live the best we can and hope we won’t be disappointed?

I well remember sitting in my college apartment and having a young woman ask me when I’d become a Christian.

“I grew up in the church. I walk forward every time we have a revival and ask Christ into my heart,” I said.

“We only have to ask Jesus into our hearts one time” she said. “When we ask in faith, His Spirit comes to permanently dwell in us.”

We only have to ask Jesus into our hearts one time. When we ask in faith, His Spirit comes to permanently dwell in us. #assurance, #grace Click To Tweet

That was a new and exhilarating idea to me. I thought the way you stayed committed was to keep asking Jesus into your heart. That afternoon Sharon explained how to gain assurance of my salvation. In case you or someone you love has struggled with this, let’s look at three reasons why a believer may doubt his/her salvation and some assurances the Bible offers.

3 Reasons People Doubt Their Salvation.

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