Tag: faith

Posted in faith, Food

There’s so much more to come

Posted on by William Douthwaite
  • “Food distributors announce recalls. Do you have any of these products in your pantry? Details right after this.” You keep watching through two minutes of commercials, hooked by the announcer’s teaser.
  • The first thing you see at the restaurant is the appetizer menu. Looking down the list, you’re suddenly a lot hungrier than you were when parking the car.
  • As you browse the new fiction at the library, the paragraphs on the inside cover flap catch your attention. You want to find out more about a mysterious character in an intriguing situation.
  • A glimpse of a mom or dad gives you a clue what a young woman or man will look like in twenty years. For better or worse, that’s the DNA they’ve got to work with.

All of the above comes to mind when the apostle Paul describes the Holy Spirit as “the deposit (down payment) of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” (Ephesians 1:13,14). The faith-working Holy Spirit in us is a reminder that there is much more to come. The world around us seems to unravel more each day. People let us down. Nothing seems to last very long. We too quickly lose the ones we love.

On the other hand, God holds the universe together. He’s faithful and eternal. Nothing can separate us from his steadfast love that never ceases. His new morning mercies make us stay tuned for more details, create a craving in us for more, lead us to read the book, and imagine what we’ll be like one day.

Posted in faith

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18,19).

I’m intrigued by Paul’s prayer that God would enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Hearts don’t see very well. Hearts don’t have eyes.

So I wonder, what can you see with your heart?

  • When my eyes see someone who looks a little rough around the edges, my heart can see with compassion. That person has a story that I haven’t yet heard.
  • When my eyes see someone sitting alone, my heart might see someone who needs a friend. Or at least acknowledgement that someone notices them.
  • When my eyes see death, my heart sees the living family and friends who will miss them.
  • When my eyes can’t see those who live far away, my mind remembers their faces and voices, and in my heart they seem so close.

Paul’s metaphor refers to those things that are real even if you can’t see them with your eyes. Things like hope, a future, and divine power. So much happens in this world that is completely out of our control. Yet, we have hope, because we know God has a handle on it. The future is so uncertain. Yet, we know God guarantees us a future. We might feel helpless, yet his divine power gives us strength.

Our faith vision — that is, the eyes of our hearts — is 20/20. Christ’s resurrection is a pair of glasses that helps us see a meaningful past, a wonderful future, and a hopeful today.

“Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”

Posted in neighborhood

Mary has a prominent place in this neighborhood

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve been noticing the statuary in the front yards I pass on my morning walks. One that piques my interest is Mary. The one pictured here is a full-sized representation of the mother of Jesus.

Why have a large (or small) statue of Mary in front of your home?

From what I’ve read, a statue of Mary is a profession of faith as well as an appeal for protection for that home and neighborhood. It serves as a reminder of Mary’s faith, encouragement to pray, and a witness to the community.

This family has constructed a small shrine. A nativity sits in front of it through the Christmas season. Colored lights illumine the statue at night.

I’ve never seen a statue of Jesus. I suppose that’s because of the commandment prohibiting graven images. St. Francis of Assisi has a spot in some gardens, reminding us his traditional close connection with flora and fauna.

A seashell sometimes surrounds a statue of Mary. The shell was a symbol of baptism in the early church. It also represented the sea, traditionally connecting Mary with protection for fishermen and sailors.

Posted in running

Building Spiritual Endurance: Lessons from Marathon Training

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints” (Revelation 13:10; 14:12).

No matter the meaning of the power and influence of the beasts and the wrath and judgments of God in Revelation, believers are called to endurance. Faithfulness is a marathon, not a sprint. This is going to take a while.

It’s been a while since I ran marathons. In preparation, I ran seventy, eighty, and sometimes ninety miles a week. I didn’t run fast. I just ran long distances for a long time. As a marathon race weekend approached, I would do long runs of sixteen, eighteen, and twenty miles, getting used to running several hours at a stretch. It wasn’t easy. But that’s what you do to be able to finish the twenty-six point two miles of a marathon.

How do we develop spiritual endurance? There are other scriptures that provide insight.

  • “The God of endurance” (Romans 15:5). He’s the source. God is faithful. He keeps going and going and going, faithful to his promises throughout our lives. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22).
  • “Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11). Endurance flows from God’s power. While a capacitor provides a quick burst of electrical energy, a battery provides a constant source of power over a longer period of time. God can ramp it up if needed. But he’s also a constant, steady source of power.
  • “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). As I read through the gospels, Jesus was never in a hurry. He traveled on foot. He stopped for those who cried out for mercy. He took time to rest, pray, eat, and teach. In contrast, I’m busy, impatient, rushed, and hate to be interrupted. What if I let him set the pace?
  • “Suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3). That’s the one I don’t like. It’s not going to be pleasant. It will be difficult. But you’ll be able to go further next time. You’ll develop endurance.

Do you want to follow Jesus? Are you committed to listening to him, learning from him, and doing what he says? If so, block out some time in your day, because it’s going to take a while to understand, trust, and do what he says. It’s going to take endurance.

Posted in faith

Time’s up: you’re no longer a noob

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve been walking past this car with a “Please Be Patient: New Driver” magnet sticker for longer than a year. It’s been there so long that the “New Driver” words have completely faded.

How long can someone claim to be a “new driver?” Certainly not a year. Maybe a month at most.

What driving behavior would require my patience? Driving much slower than the speed limit? Cutting corners and hitting curbs while turning right? Lingering at an intersection after the light turns green? Slowing to a crawl on the interstate entrance ramp? Lol. Those are normal driving habits. Experienced drivers do these things all the time.

How long can someone claim to be a rookie? A noob? I meet folks who claim that status after being Christians and church members for over five years. How long can you avoid ministry by stating, “I’m new at this”?

From my experience, the longer I follow Christ, the more questions I have. I feel less qualified and more dependent on grace. I have to trust him more than my own experience or expertise. I no longer say, “I’ve got this,” but rather, “He’s got me.”

It’s more like, “Please be patient: I’ve been doing this a long time.” That’s the perspective of a mature faith.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Soon

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Simon Reza on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Revelation 22.

“I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7, 12, and, 20).

When someone says, “I’ll be there soon,” I expect their arrival within five minutes at the most. If someone assures me, “Just a minute,” I’m thinking somewhere around sixty seconds. When the text reads, “We’re almost there,” I walk out into the driveway and look for the car coming down the street towards our house.

I’ve learned that soon means different lengths of time to different people. It could be anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to whenever. Or a few thousand years in the case of Jesus who brings the bible to a close with the promise, “I am coming soon.”

The thing is, I live in a world with next day delivery, express lanes, microwavable meals, instant pudding, lightning passes, gig-speed internet, and fast-setting Quikcrete.

So we wonder, “How much longer?” And we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

On the other hand, we are quick to react, “Already?” Vacation is over, it’s time to go back to work or school, and we lament, “Already?” When a loved one dies, it’s often “too soon,” and we wish we had more time with them. Supper’s over and the kids are asking for snacks. Already? Six months have passed and it’s time for your dentist appointment. Already?

Rather than marking a day on the calendar, Jesus leaves us hanging with his promise, “I am coming soon.” That promise makes every day significant, because it might be the last. Make the most of it. It makes every day a gift. Another chance. It keeps him on the front burner of my mind, rather than thinking, “I’ve got lots of time.” It makes today more important than someday.

Do I have a lot of time to witness to a friend? To serve? To pray? Maybe. Maybe not. After all, Jesus is coming soon.

I began this reading through the bible on June 18, 2024. I think it took longer this time since I decided to write devotionally along the way. Now what? Start over again? Read cover to cover using a different translation? Pick a book of the bible and spend more time there? I’m not sure. I’ll figure it out. Soon.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Evaluating Churches: Insights from Revelation 2 and 3

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Cosmic Timetraveler on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Revelation 2 and 3.

When I look at a church, whether my own or another, I tend to notice different things than God does.

  • I look at it’s size. How many gather for worship? I think most of us assume that bigger is better. They must be doing something right, right?
  • I evaluate the style. What kind of music do they have? What’s the quality of the music? What message does the music communicate?
  • I pay attention to the demographics. Is it just a bunch of old people? I like to see a multi-generational gathering, with lots of families with children.
  • What about their programming? Do they have a lot of things going on? How full is the weekly calendar of events? Is the congregation reaching out to the local community as well as supporting mission efforts around the globe?

As John writes to the seven churches, we learn that God looks at the church in an entirely different way.

  • Is that church’s activity fueled by love (Ephesus)?
  • How does the church respond to difficulties and challenges (Smyrna)?
  • What false teaching does the church tolerate (Pergamum)?
  • What false teachers does the church tolerate (Thyatira)?
  • What programs have stalled out (Sardis)?
  • Is the church pursuing opportunities for ministries in the immediate area (Philadelphia)?
  • Does the church care about people, the community, and the world? Or are they indifferent, isolated in a bubble (Laodicea)?

How can anyone not be convicted when they read these chapters of Revelation? No church is perfect. No church checks all these boxes. Every church has something to work on.

Every church needs to repent.

Any church can dig in and declare, “We’re right and they’re wrong!” How many churches will admit, “We have a lot to work on”? How many will commit to being the kind of church that the Lord wants us to be?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Turn up the volume

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Al Elmes on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jude.

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

In the first church where I served as pastor, the sanctuary was separated from a kitchen/fellowship area by a long accordion-style folding divider. One Sunday morning, a meal was scheduled to follow the worship service. I had to contend with slicing, chopping, conversation, and chuckling from well-intentioned parishioners busy with food preparation during the sermon. With a louder-than-usual-voice and lots of projection, I was up to the task.

It didn’t happen often, but some babies weren’t happy at their baptism. I had to contend with their louder-than-usual cries at the font. Once again, I was up to the task, calling upon the breath support I usually used for playing the trumpet.

Jude calls on believers to “contend for the faith” because there was a lot of other noise filling the early church air. The voices of false teachers, grumblers, complainers, and boasters created division in the church, even denying Christ himself! Jude encourages them to turn up the volume of the apostles’ words, praying and strengthening their faith in the promises of God.

Is the church a place filled with the sounds of joy or complaining? Are we united in mission or divided over worldly issues? Do we hear the voice of truth or lies from the enemy?

It’s always a good day to turn up the volume of love, mercy, and grace as we contend for the faith.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

We have an advocate

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from 1 John 2.

“If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

Over the years I’ve written many letters of recommendation for youth seeking admission to college or applying for financial aid. Most of the time, I knew them well, having taught them and gotten them involved in various church ministries. I enjoyed advocating for each one, anticipating their future success.

A few times I had to be honest and admit I didn’t know them very well. I did my best to write positively about them and their future potential.

I think it’s interesting that one of the roles the bible assigns to Jesus is advocate or mediator. But he doesn’t advocate for those who are upstanding citizens of heaven. If we fail, if we blow it, if we give in to temptation, if we do terrible things – if we sin, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.”

Who would you ask to write a letter of reference to God for admission to heaven? Isn’t that what we hear at funerals. Actually, that’s what you always hear at funerals. The deceased was the nicest person you could ever meet, unselfishly willing to do anything for anyone in need. Most of those in attendance know better, but dare not tell the truth. Grief is hard enough without recounting past hurts, regrets, and grudges.

Jesus is the one you want as an advocate. He doesn’t sugar coat your life. He simply assumes your guilt and shame and lets you wear his righteousness, which secures your admission to eternal life. You aren’t the nicest person he’s ever met, but he loves you so much he doesn’t hesitate to go to bat for you.