Wow Dee Wow by Kim Jackson

The first time my Mom saw the ocean, she stood on the shore, spread her arms open wide as if to embrace a new friend, and said, “Look what the Lord has done.”

Her marvel at the ocean deepened with each trip to her beloved seashore. Whether admiring a sunrise’s riot of color or standing mesmerized by dancing dolphins, the expression on her face reflected the depth of her awe.

Beauty rarely escaped my Mom’s recognition. Whether at ocean’s edge or in her native Midwest, my Mom appreciated not only the “pretty of creation,” but also the unique, the detail, and the spectacular in the world around her. She even coined a signature exclamation to capture her wonder: “Wow Dee Wow!”

I believe God is honored by “Wow Dee Wow!”

The Psalms often rally us to speak, shout and sing our “Wow Dee Wows.” One of my favorites is Psalm 34:2: “My soul will boast in the Lord….” In the margin next to that verse I’ve written: “I’m bragging on You, Lord,” and “I’m proud of You, God!”

Several years ago I visited a church known for its vibrant worship. As I drove up the long driveway to the parking lot, I noticed two large stone monuments. I pulled my car to the edge of the road and smiled when I realized the stones were engraved with words reminiscent of Luke 19:40.

The first stone read, “If you don’t praise Him…” The second stone continued, “We will.”

I don’t want a rock taking my place in praising God, do you?

When I lived on the east side of Orlando, I would leave for work at 6:30 a.m. each morning for a commute that required me to merge onto the race track otherwise known as the East/West Expressway—something that almost always improved my prayer life.

One particular morning I was already in the prayer mode before approaching the ramp to the expressway. As I considered the day that would unfold before me, my prayers were along these lines:

“God, I want to make You smile today. I want to live my life in such a way that it brings joy to your great heart. Show me ways that I can delight You. I want to make You smile today, God.”

And just as I was speaking those words, I was at the top of the ramp and needed to look in my side mirror to see if the oncoming cars would allow an easy merge.

But what I saw in the mirror was not headlights or bumpers, but instead, an incredibly glorious sunrise. As my car merged in to the westbound lanes, this fantastic display continued to develop in my rearview mirror. The colors were stunning. Even viewed in a mirror, the artistry was overwhelming.

It was then that I heard God speak to my spirit: “What a coincidence… I want to make you smile today, too.”

I reveled in the thought! God had painted the skies for me that day! Or at least for those who would take note of such a display of grandeur. I was obviously in a minority that morning, for when I pulled up to the first tollbooth I could see that the occupants in the cars squeezed around mine had not noticed God’s colorful canvas. On the contrary, the lady in front of me was putting on makeup; another driver was juggling coffee and breakfast biscuits. And I think the driver on my left had the Wall Street Journal draped over his steering wheel.

My soul cried out, “Oh God, thank You for making me smile this morning! Father, please don’t let me ever be so distracted that I miss Your glory displayed in the skies. May my heart always respond to Your creative craftsmanship with ‘Wow Dee Wows’ of praise.”

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands”   Psalm 19:1.

Have No Shame by Jenn Fromke

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel . . . “ Romans 1:16


If I say this every day when I wake up in the morning, what might it do to my life?

I do not want to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel at Bible Study.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel at church.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel with my kids.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel when I’m alone.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel when someone steps on my rights to religious freedom.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel at the grocery store until I am prompted to pay for someone else’s groceries.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel when I talk to other people who are sharing it.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel until I see someone standing on a corner holding a sign. Then I wonder if I should give him money or the Gospel or both. Most often, the light turns green, and I give him neither.

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel when I plan an event that is designed to share the Gospel.

I’m ashamed of myself when a spontaneous opportunity presents itself and I don’t feel “ready” to share the Gospel.

When I am with unbelievers, sometimes I spend more time plotting how I’ll share with them than I spend listening to what they have to say.

When I am surrounded by strangers, I think, wouldn’t it be nice if they could see the Gospel in me without my ever saying a word?

When I am with a loved one I don’t believe is walking with the Lord, I wish he would listen to the Gospel somewhere, sometime.

When I am with a friend who doesn’t know the Lord, I pat myself on the back if I manage to slip tiny pieces of the Gospel into our conversation.

When I am with those who need it most, I often judge whether they “want” to hear the Gospel or not, and if I don’t think they “want” to hear it, I don’t speak it.

Some days I feel like wearing a T-shirt which proclaims the Gospel of Christ.

Some days I hide behind the pages of a newspaper, which promotes ideas contrary to the Gospel.

I am ashamed of my ineptitude when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ.

HOWEVER!

I am a child of God and as such, I am empowered by the Holy Spirit, who lives in me, to share the Gospel.

I am overwhelmed that God would use someone like me to participate in such eternal things as carrying the Gospel of Christ to people who are desperate for it.

Even when I am failing miserably, as I try to explain the truth of God, He will miraculously bring understanding through my feeble words, so that His Word is proclaimed with power; Holy Spirit power.

I am not ashamed of the One in whom I’ve placed my faith.

I am not ashamed of the mercy He granted me when I believed.

I am not ashamed of the grace He lavishes on me daily, wholly undeserved.

I wish I could give all that He’s given me, to all the people who have not yet heard or responded to the Gospel.

THEREFORE,

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

A New Bike and Mansion in Glory by Jan Darnell

If you read my last blog, you know that my father passed away on September 27th of 2009. It was an exceptionally solemn occasion for our family and a heart breaking experience for me. My dad was my life mentor who challenged me, and everyone he met, to live passionately and love wholeheartedly. We reflected on this zealous attitude in his memorial service, with a number of people sharing stories regarding Dad’s ability to capture ordinary moments and turn them into opportunities for adventure. He was an extraordinary man and we are definitely the beneficiaries of his loving and fun ways.

Over the subsequent months, our family celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year of 2010 without Dad. His walking cane took its place by our family fireplace throughout the holidays as a silent, but wonderful reminder of his life. And in Atlanta, mother is putting her house up for sale. She is getting rid of the things that my parents worked all their lives to attain. The majority of these possessions must now be sold or given away, and though they have faded in importance, they stir up testimonies of eternal significance. Allow me to share an example of one such possession.

When I was five, Dad decided it was time for me to master my bicycle. We went to the top of a large grassy hill where he removed my training wheels, set me on the bike and turned me loose. With great confidence in my dad’s ability to teach me the right way, I proceeded down the hill, wobbling right and left, hitting numerous telephone poles along the way. The poles, of course, were crash sites that drew me like magnets into their path. After each perilous encounter, I would get back up and continue on as Dad cheered me on from afar. By the time I reached the bottom of that hill, both my bike and my appendages were scratched, tattered and embedded with dirt and grass stains. Yet, what a feeling of accomplishment! Under adverse conditions, amidst an obstacle course of poled conflict, I had finished the course. There’s nothing like a sense of accomplishment. Or perhaps there is… that smile of approval on my dad’s face. I experienced both that day.

I have never forgotten that incident, perhaps because it was traumatic, but I believe more so because my dad reflected an important truth to me. God loves us and wants the very best for us. He challenges us to grow by designing obstacle courses that cause us to mature in gifting and skill. We see it as terrifying. God sees it as transforming. On these courses, we are being transformed from glory to glory, back into His image, which is one of righteousness, wisdom, grace and skill. Adam and Eve traded away God’s image for the toxic knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3). Now, we are given the challenge of learning the difference between good and evil, and choosing what is right (Deut. 30:19).

Along the way, we will be confronted by poles that seem to draw us. Not perfect, but being perfected, we usually suffer the bruises and scratches from colliding with these poles until learning to navigate the hills. Yet our heavenly Father is still proud of us when we trust His hand. Jesus taught in the parable of the talents that we exemplify faith by investing the abilities God has given us (Mt. 25:14-30). I trusted dad when he put me on that bike and turned me loose at five years of age. I trust God every day when He faithfully solicits the sunrise and turns me loose to face the challenges of life’s magnetic obstacles. What will the day be like? How many poles will be there? Will I crash and burn on site or know the sweetness of His victory in moving forward? David sang, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Whatever the day brings, our heavenly Father is watching with anticipation over a divinely designed transformation process for each of us. He smiles at our faith and willingness to learn of His goodness.

My dad bought me a new bike that afternoon because the previous one was bent and mangled. Scripturally speaking, our Father plans to restore our lives in much the same way. My earthly father bought me a new bike. My heavenly Father has on reserve an eternal inheritance in the Kingdom of God and a redeemed citizenship for me in the forthcoming Jerusalem. While I can’t possibly fathom the details of what that will entail entirely, I can operate in the realm of where He has me currently and do the best with what I have. The same is true for you too. Your heavenly Father has released you to navigate through each and every day with your gifting and abilities, learning from the mistakes and getting up to try again. May you be blessed as you live the “day that the Lord has made” for the glory of our heavenly Father. You have a new bike waiting at the end of the course. In Christ, you have a mansion in glory! (John 14:1-3)