More than a Mascot

By Dawn Wilson –

Years ago, when my younger son played baseball for the Phillies’ minor league Batavia Muckdogs, I laughed as the mascot dog—now named Homer—entertained fans at Dwyer Stadium. He was clumsy and hilarious. These days, my older son sometimes dresses up as a mascot, Odin, for the Valhalla High School football team. I get a kick out of seeing him on the field, joking around and cheering on the team.

Mascots are adopted by teams as a symbols of groups and teams; but there are some strange ones: the Banana Slug, Sebastian the Ibis, Zippy the Kangaroo, the Boll Weevil. Maybe the strangest one is Stanford University’s unofficial mascot, “The Tree.” To quote one observer, “It looks like it was made with Elmer’s glue and construction paper by a group of first graders.”

Mascots supposedly bring good luck. (To watch some of the blooper videos on YouTube, I think the mascots need some luck of their own! They trip, fall, and generally make fools of themselves. One mascot jumped on a trampoline into a basketball hoop, and lost his pants before exiting the net!) We all love those crazy mascots. They’re great to have around, if only for a good laugh.

But some time ago, I read a statement by David Bryant that made me think about this word “mascot” in a far more serious light. “We often find ourselves making Jesus our mascot,” Bryant said, “instead of our Monarch. He’s around, but not in charge.”

“I’ve never done that,” I thought. But then the Spirit of God showed me ways that I have sometimes treated Jesus like a “lucky rabbit’s foot” or a magic “Jeanie in a bottle”—a good luck charm to keep me safe.

We may laugh at a mascot, but we’d never bow before one. We’re told in scripture, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Jesus is not my mascot. Jesus is not, as some people say, my “Homeboy.” No, Jesus is Lord. He is Master. And just saying those words is not enough. Jesus told people, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). We show the world that Jesus is our Lord when we obey Him, when He is the center of our existence and we manifest His love throughout the world.

Jesus is my Lord because He is my very life (Colossians 3:1-4)—a life I have because He died for me. I can’t think of a mascot anywhere who would love me enough to die for me.

From Chatterbox to Listening with Purpose

By Dawn Wilson –

As a young mom, I had two non-talkative, all-action sons; but my best girlfriend during those years had a little girl, an exuberant chatterbox! Little Misty talked nonstop. One day at the park, I watched as my girlfriend endured yet another one-sided conversation.

“Mama, look at that bird,” Misty said. “Who do you think taught the bird to sing? Where do you think it lives? Do you think the birdie has sister? I want a sister, Mama. We can call her Snoopy like that cartoon dog. Do you like that name, Mama? I’m hungry. Can we get some donuts? Can babies eat donuts?”

My girlfriend smiled at her daughter, wondering when to break in. A woman of wisdom, she knew that those years would pass quickly; so she stroked Misty’s hair and listened with purpose, using Misty’s words as a launching pad for a precious teachable moment.

Over the years as I watched Misty grow, I realized my girlfriend also modeled how to listen! Rather than becoming a self-centered chatterbox, Misty became a graceful conversationalist with sincere interest in others.

For far too long, my prayer life resembled Misty’s incessant chatter. It was all about my wants, my reasoning, my agenda. I didn’t consider that God might want to speak too. Early on, I wondered whether God “rolled His eyes” at my steady barrage of prayer lists and demands, but now I know my patient Father listened and turned many prayers into teachable moments. He applied scriptures that opened my eyes and ears.

The truth is, God wants to speak. “O that my people would listen to me,” He said (Psalm 81:13a, ESV). Listening to God is a deliberate choice. As we shut out the noisy world and quiet ourselves before God (Psalm 46:10), we can better focus on what He wants to say.

It’s hard to hear God when I’m rushing around, tending to my “to do list;” but God will speak. As thoughts come to my mind, I sometimes write them down, so I can “test” them later with scripture to be sure I’ve heard from God and not messages from the enemy or my own deceitful heart (1 John 4:1; Jeremiah 17:9).

As I wait with an expectant spirit, I yield to God and tell Him I’m prepared to obey. That is crucial to conversation with God. When there is something I’ve already determined I will not do, why should God tell me more? Listening to God is one thing; hearing Him is another. As I listen, God sometimes points out something I need to deal with through confession and repentance before I move on.

Jesus only said and did what the Father wanted—what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19-20)—and He is our example. We won’t get ahead of God or fall behind, losing opportunities, if we listen with purpose, seeking the Father’s will. We need to expect and wait for Him to speak.

To get into this frame of mind, I often pray Psalm 25:4: “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Are you a prayer “chatterbox,” always talking, never listening? God wants to speak. How can you listen with purpose today?

The God Who Sees and Seeks

By Dawn Wilson –

“Come and find me, Mommy,” my oldest son Robert yelled down the hallway. At age three, Robert loved to play Hide and Seek, but his attempts to hide made me laugh.

I stopped cutting potatoes for dinner and searched for my son. It didn’t take long to find him. As I rounded the corner, I spied two legs sticking out from below his bed. I smiled, understanding that in his little mind, as long as he couldn’t see me, I couldn’t see him.

“Gotcha!” I yelled, as I grabbed his legs and pulled him out. I tickled him and we both erupted in goofy giggles.

I wonder whether God smiles or is grieved when we play Hide and Seek with Him. He must think we’re pretty silly when we “hide” our sinful behavior. Do we really think He can’t see?

In Jeremiah 23:24, God asked the prophet, “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” The writer of Hebrews gives us the answer: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13a).

As a child, I heard the story of Achan (Joshua 7:1-26), hiding banned items in his tent in direct disobedience and rebellion against God. My Sunday school teacher said God saw what was hidden and punished Achan with death. I remember being terrified of God—the One who saw everything!

In high school—trying to live a “Christian” life without knowing Jesus—I read about Ananias and Sapphira, hiding their sin of greed and lying to the apostles (Acts 5:1-11). But God saw it all. He knew their hearts. As I read about how they died for their deception, I squirmed. “God sees my heart,” I thought, with growing fear, “and I’m such a mess!”

Even after I became a Christ-follower in my early 20s, my view of God was such that when I thought of Him beholding my sinful behavior, I was too convicted and scared to come to Him. Whenever I sinned, I avoided time with God instead of quickly coming to repent and move on in freedom. I still had much to learn about the grace of God and that the person who “conceals” sin will not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces sins discovers God’s great mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

But one day, I read the story of Hagar the concubine, running away from her jealous master, Sarai (Sarah) to dwell and perhaps die in the desert (Genesis 16:7-14). God “found” her by a spring of water in the wilderness when she felt most alone and destitute.

Hagar called the Lord “a God of seeing.” She realized that the omniscient God saw her in her great need, and He was going to look after her and her son and give them a future. She called the place where God met with her Beer Lahai Roi—meaning “the well of the Living One who sees me.”

My view of God changed that day. I understood the incredible grace of the One who sees everything, yet pursues me to reveal Himself for my good. The Psalmist says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). There’s no need to hide; but even when I do, my loving Father God will seek, find and comfort me with His love.

What have you learned about this great God who sees and seeks?

Don’t Rent Out Your Grey Matter

By Dawn Wilson –

Back in the 1990s, I read some words by Lee Ezell that gave me a new perspective on forgiveness. “When you do not forgive,” Ezell said, “you permit your enemies to live rent free in your head. Evict them today.”

A few years later, while teaching a women’s Sunday school class, I realized that I was renting out my grey matter to my big-time enemy—the Devil himself—and over a lot more issues than forgiveness! Whenever I believed the lies that he whispered in my ears, I gave him space to do his dastardly work.

Some of the dumbest lies I ever believed were regarding my call to ministry. The Lord called me to encourage, energize, and edify women. I heard the call clearly, and I studied to prepare my heart and mind to share biblical truth at every opportunity the Lord would give me. I said a big “yes” to God … but then the lies began.

“You’ve seen those lady speakers, haven’t you? Those pretty young things? Who do you think is going to listen to you, Grammy Wilson?” Ah, the age lie.

“How can you speak to people?” the enemy continued. “You’ve got a big gap between your front teeth, and have you seen your fat ankles lately? People won’t listen to what you say because they’ll be too busy staring at your messed up bod!” Ugh… the appearance lie.

“And who do you think you are?” the enemy hissed. “You’re no brainiac, you know; and speakers and authors have to know technical stuff today. Remember? You’re such a techno-blonde!” The final, crushing blow—the abilities lie.

For a while, I allowed the enemy to move in and make himself comfortable. In no time, defeated, fearful thoughts took over and I decided that maybe God hadn’t called me after all.

Then I heard a pastor say words that continue to challenge my thinking today: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, HCSB).

Serving God isn’t about age, appearance, abilities, or anything else so self-focused. It’s all about God—discerning what He has called us to do, trusting Him to work, and obeying Him joyfully and without delay.

I’ve found everything I need—provision, protection, power, peace and more—in my Father’s mighty presence and enabling. He simply asks me to submit my thoughts to His control, allowing them to be transformed through the truth of the Word, and to actively resist my sneaky, deceitful enemy (James 4:7).

How about you? Do you have a brain tenant who wants to destroy you with his lies? Evict him and make more room for the Living Word. Ask God’s Spirit to speak truth to you and through you.

Primed for a Downfall

By Dawn Wilson –

I was fifteen, and a bit of a show-off. One day I somehow got the bright idea that I could swing across the room holding on to two parallel counter tops—sort of like being on parallel bars at the gym.

“Look at me!” I yelled to everyone in the room as I ran, placed my hands on the two counters, and made a deep swing forward like an Olympic gymnast.

It was a glorious swing, but I didn’t land right. It wasn’t pretty. I fell to the floor, crashing hard on my rear end. Everyone gasped, but I don’t remember anyone coming to help. They just laughed.

I picked myself up and crept away in embarrassment, my posterior throbbing with pain.

Alone in another room, I remembered a scripture verse I’d heard as a small child. In a newer version it reads, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, ESV).

Talk about a teachable moment!

Pride has been my big downfall for most of my life. Pride keeps me from being real and authentic about my needs. Arrogance makes me compare myself with others and believe I’m better, or if I see that I am “not enough” in my comparison, prideful insecurities make me cast blame or justify my lack. A haughty spirit says “It’s all about me” when the Bible clearly illustrates over and over again that my existence is all about God and His agenda.

I like to think that with wisdom I’ve gained more humility, but the opposite is also true. Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (NIV).

Humility is a choice. The scriptures tell us to humble ourselves (James 4:10), and if we don’t, God will allow opportunities for us to be humbled, because He hates and opposes pride and the behaviors that come from self-exalting attitudes (Proverbs 8:13; James 4:6).

In Luke 1:52 it says, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones….” We see this in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar who lost his kingdom after he exalted himself. He suffered until he finally exalted “the King of heaven” (Daniel 4). Pride has brought down many leaders throughout history, but pride isn’t only a sin for kings. It is rooted in the hearts of every one of us.

J.C. Ryle wrote, “Pride sits in all our hearts by nature. We are born proud.” Pride blinds us to our faults, keeps us from admitting sin, makes us self-righteous, keeps us independent from God and others, and worst of all, is an obstacle to trusting in Christ.

One of the ways I fight pride is to embrace my identity in Christ. All that I am is wrapped up in what the Lord has done for me. I not only have a new identity in Him, but also absolute security, dignity and purpose.

Because I sense the destructiveness of pride, I tell people to be alert and watch out for it. If we allow pride to dwell in our hearts unchecked, we are primed for an eventual downfall. And believe me, it’s going to hurt.

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