Tag Archives: Grace

Message In A Minute: Deeper

Last week, while on vacation, my nephew strongly requested a visit to a toy store.

We were shopping at various tourist-centric establishments, but my nephew made sure to let everyone know where he wanted to go.

Once we found a toy store, all of us went inside. My nephew stopped at the very first display. It was an interactive table with lots of motion and bright colors. It was an obvious first stop for a young boy.

We spent quite a bit of time roaming the store, playing with toys and talking. But my nephew never left the first display. While the rest of us were seeing what the store had to offer, my nephew was content to stay near the entrance the entire time.

My nephew will have plenty of time to visit other toy stores. He won’t be concerned with missing a few toys at that particular store. But that day reminded me of what happens to many spiritually curious people.

I understand the temptation to simply hangout near the entrance of faith. It’s enticing to stop and bask in the grace, never moving beyond that wonderful acceptance. But there is so much more to experience. So many more opportunities. So much more God wants to show us.

There is abiding peace, deep security, abundant joy, and an eternal relationship just beyond the entrance.

There are life changing moments, soul transforming experiences, and destiny altering adventures a little further in.

There is wisdom beyond understanding, healing beyond our capabilities, and love beyond our comprehension.

The New Testament illustrates this whole idea by stating that some Christians seem content with a bottle of milk, when there is a feast awaiting us.

Don’t miss all that He has for you. Don’t disregard all that He wants to do in you. Don’t ignore all that He wants to do through you. His blessings will overflow to others if you are close to Him.

Go further, dig deeper, draw closer to God.

His grace will welcome you in, His grace will lead you deeper, and His grace will transform everything along the way.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Stand Tall

I’ve read that the giant Sequoia (Redwood) trees have some interesting characteristics.

Even though they grow to well over three hundred feet, their roots only go down an average of ten feet.

You would think that these enormous trees would lack stability because of the relative shallowness of their roots. But something intriguing happens underground. Something we can draw inspiration from.

These ancient and gargantuan specimens grow their roots out from the center of the trunk up to one hundred feet. And the roots intertwine with other Sequoias close by. The root systems of all the individual trees create a support network that lets each tree reach for the sky.

No tree stands alone, each one depends on the others. They stand tall in the strongest storm because they hold each other up. It’s a group effort.

You and I need other people, some of us don’t like to admit it.

We can accomplish great things alone. But there are certain circumstances in life where we need the encouragement, the experience, and the expertise of others. No matter your personality type, maturity level, or your social acumen, you will eventually need the support of another.

There are times we simply need some help.

But there are also times when we get to be the root system for others. We will have the opportunity to offer support, advice, or reassurance to another. We can help hold them up in their time of need.

Find your support system. Be a segment of a support system for others. Help others rise up.

Stand tall, knowing you are not alone.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Lift Others Up

I discovered a phenomenon the other day.

It started with a picture a friend shared online, then I followed it up with some research.

It seems at rock concerts, people confined to wheelchairs are candidates for an amazing experience. And it appears that the more wild and crazy the music, the more often this type of event takes place. I would love to see it in person.

During the concert somebody gets the idea that a person in a wheelchair should be able to see the stage as well as everyone else. I don’t know if it’s the person in the wheelchair, a friend. or a stranger with the idea. But, the wheelchair is lifted up, and the device with its occupant are suddenly riding on top of a sea of helpful hands.

Some are simply hoisted up to see better, others travel over the crowd, and some make it all the way to the stage. And each picture I’ve seen reveals a huge smile or look of contentment on every face. The videos I’ve watched are inspiring.

It can’t be easy to get this kind of thing started, and the people holding the others up are working hard. But with so many helping, it looks effortless to lift others up.

We may not appreciate the music at many of these concerts, but we can learn from the compassion and teamwork displayed by these joy filled participants. These people who are doing the lifting may never attend a church, but somehow they are tapping in to what ministry is all about. They are demonstrating that humanity can be a beautiful, organic, healing, effective, and inspiring creation when self-centeredness is cast aside.

Who can you lift up?

Who can you encourage?

Who can you provide with a better perspective?

You have unique abilities to lift others up in ways that last longer than a few songs at a rock concert.

You can make contact with a lonely person.
You can sincerely compliment another.
You can provide encouragement.
You can give money or resources.
You can volunteer your time.
You can pray for those in need.

We have the ability to do emotionally and spiritually what I’ve been explaining happens physically at these concerts.

We can lift others up, if we are willing to get out of our comfort zone, and get into our concert zone.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Burned

On a beach vacation many years ago, I got burned.

I don’t mean sunburned, I was burned in a very surprising way.

We were one street back from the ocean, in one of those beach houses that advertises “ocean view” instead of “ocean front.” I was in the pool with others and I saw a kite come crashing down between our house and the house next to ours. I figured I’d grab the kite and take it back to whomever was flying it.

I got close to the kite and I grabbed the string that was tangled in some shrubbery. I had the string in my hand and kept walking toward the kite. I heard a car go by on the road between our house and the ocean. Next thing I know, I hear a sound like a giant zipper zipping at a high speed and my fingers felt like they were on fire.

The car had run into the kite string and took the string with it. I was holding string that was suddenly attached to a car traveling thirty miles per hour. I couldn’t let go fast enough to avoid the string cutting into my fingers. But I guess the string was moving so fast and the friction created enough heat that my fingers were basically cauterized as they were cut.

There was no blood, but I had the imprint of the string in three of my fingers for over a month.

When something drops into your vicinity, think it through before you go grab it.

Don’t assume when something falls into your life out of nowhere, that it’s meant to be. A person, a job, a chance at something you’ve dreamed about, all that and more could be wonderful opportunities.

Or these apparent opportunities could burn you if you lack wisdom.

The Old Testament has much to say about wisdom. About the success of people who have wisdom, and about the destruction of people who lack wisdom.

Scripture consistently compels us to ask for wisdom from God. It compares wisdom to a trusted friend, a wise counselor, a treasure greater than gold. The Bible promises that if you desire wisdom and understanding, God is willing to give them to you.

There are things in life that you work for, prepare for, and hope for, almost all of the time these things will have a positive impact on your life.

But be careful about things that seem to drop in your life out of thin air. These things aren’t always bad, but I encourage you to pray, seek more wisdom, look into all the details before you pick these things up.

I appreciate everyone who reads these messages, I wish great things for each of you, I hope you experience grace, hope, and encouragement.

But, above anything written by me or anyone else, I pray you seek God’s wisdom in every opportunity that comes your way.

God knows what each opportunity holds, ask Him, trust Him, and experience wisdom.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: See A Purpose

Recently, I’ve have been visiting a friend at a long-term care facility.

I’ve been quite a few times to see him, and often it’s a difficult experience. It’s not simply that my friend is progressing slowly but it’s that so many residents in the faculty are dealing with a variety of impairments. My heart goes out to them every time I’m there.

I am encouraged by the care that the residents receive, and my friend is usually in good spirits. The facility seems to be a very supportive environment. But, I look forward to the day my friend can be back to a more normal kind of life.

Every time I visit, there is a resident in a wheelchair waiting inside the double doors.

I’ve been there in the early morning and late afternoon, and he is faithfully at his post. He places himself right beside the automatic door button and he loves to be the one to let you in. He is basically the volunteer doorman.

He watches for people through the glass doors, and quickly reaches for the button. You can sense that he is dedicated and excited to offer his assistance in this small way. I imagine he can’t wait to get to his spot every morning.

I have explained to him how much I appreciate his help and he seems to be fulfilled in the effort. I have a strong sense that this man is doing God’s work. It could be described as a holy moment when the doors open.

For me and many others, it’s just a button on the wall that I’d have to push.

To this man, it’s everything.

It’s meaning, responsibility, and service.

In that place… 
Some see a prison, this man sees a purpose.
Some feel despair, this man finds dedication.
Some dream of healing, he is busy helping.
Some face adversity, he finds adventure.
Some are counting the days till they are out of there, this man counts the people he has served.

He is a wonderful welcomer.
He is a devoted doorman.
He is a sacred servant.

I don’t know his whole story, but I know he is playing an active role in his story.

I don’t know your whole story, but I do believe God wants to be involved in every moment of it.

And I pray that you and I can be as faithful in opening figurative doors for others, as the man who opens the physical doors for every visitor.

No matter your limitations, find a way to display God’s limitless love.

-Tom Wise