Articles by Bruce Wadd at Heartlight

A Lizard's Tail?

bwadd@bigpond.net.au (Bruce Wadd) — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Recently, a second cat arrived in our household, his arrival bringing both the pleasure and pain of a young, untrained feline.

One of my greatest joys is watching this youngster play with almost anything that comes into its vision. A simple leaf, a piece of paper, a string of cotton, a curtain swaying in the breeze -- all hold a degree of fascination and excitement!

Last evening, the excitement hit a new level. Walking in through the front door I noticed the cat absorbed by something moving around on the floor. Upon investigation, I realized this writhing object was a lizard's tail. And so for the next fifteen minutes, the cat never once let that tail move without giving it some degree of attention.

Sin often holds that same fascination. At the Cross, Jesus' awesome sacrifice took away sin forever. However, like that writhing tail, the remnants of sin are still making their final moves, despite being dead and defeated.

How is your fascination level with sin today? God has broken the power of sin in your life -- that is fact! Have you accepted that fact?

Remember the words of the apostle Paul:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1-2 NLT)

TODAY, ignore all those lizard tails!

Bruce is a teacher, adult-educator, preacher, writer, father (of two teens), husband (of 21 years), surfer, and lover of mountains. He is part of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

It Only Comes with Rain

bwadd@bigpond.net.au (Bruce Wadd) — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within." (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.) (John 7:37-38)

Isn't it fascinating that when we are in drought, we can add lots of water and fertilizer to our lawns, and they only partially perk up with our expense and efforts. Then along comes some rain, just an overnight shower, and by the next day our lawns and gardens have new growth and vitality that they have been missing for months. Despite all our best efforts, we can't add the same vitality that rain does.

God is exactly the same! Religion and humanity can try and make the person, and they can sometimes do a great job, but true change happens when God enters someone's life.

Looking for real change -- change that brings growth and vitality? Let the Holy Spirit pour into your life like a tropical rainstorm!

[Jesus replied] "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven." (John 3:6)

Bruce is a teacher, adult-educator, preacher, writer, father (of two teens), husband (of 21 years), surfer, and lover of mountains. He is part of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

The Power is On!

bwadd@bigpond.net.au (Bruce Wadd) — Sun, 26 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Note: This seems especially appropriate for the large number of Heartlight friends who have lived through electrical outages with recent hurricanes.

You are half through a family evening when the power goes out without warning. Automatically the family goes into "Plan B" mode, going for the torches, candles, and matches. In only a matter of five minutes, the family is back playing the game at the table just as before -- the only difference is the light source being used for the game!

Over half an hour goes by, and the family is having a great deal of fun with the game. One family member gets up and discovers that the lights are on next door and down the street. They all felt quite silly when they realized that they had been struggling with torchlight and candlelight when they could have been playing by the normal lights.

Are you living your life like that? By torchlight? By candlepower? Not acknowledging God's willingness to do great things?

The apostle Paul reminds you that, "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." (Philippians 2:13) Will you join him in saying, " I can do all things in him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

TODAY, you have access to the power of God. Turn it ON!

[Jesus said to his closest followers] "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." (John 14:12)

Bruce is a teacher, adult-educator, preacher, writer, father (of two teens), husband (of 21 years), surfer, and lover of mountains. He is part of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

Wanting God Most of All

bwadd@bigpond.net.au (Bruce Wadd) — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0500

In the year leading up to my marriage to my darling wife we chose to start our careers first. This meant living 1000km away from each other, lots of phone calls, plane flights and all-night drives to see the one I loved.

I can particularly remember my young fiancee's tears as we said goodbye at the airport the last time we were seeing each other before our wedding. That last fleeting glance, "that final touch," that one last word, before disappearing down the walkway! Then spending day after day yearning for the partner that you were going to spend the rest of your life with!

There were even times when we spent 10 weeks apart at a time. The face of my loved one started to fade in the memory -- I am horrified by the thought!

I really wanted that woman -- to be close to her as much as possible!

Do you have that same yearning for Jesus? He came and spent time on earth, lived, died and rose again, purely because of His passionate love for you.

He is now in heaven preparing your future and eternal home, and He is asking you, "Do you really want me?"

"This one thing I know: God is for me!" (Psalms 56:9)

TODAY, pray for a desire for God like you have never had before!

Bruce is a teacher, adult-educator, preacher, writer, father (of two teens), husband (of 21 years), surfer, and lover of mountains. He is part of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute

Eaten Away from the Inside

bwadd@bigpond.net.au (Bruce Wadd) — Tue, 02 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0600

When you first make the discovery, you're speechless. You suddenly realize that this silent terror has been happening right under your nose!

It was Easter time and my wife and I were in "clean up mode." The task at hand was to redesign and reorganize our garage. Upon shifting the first cupboard, termites were discovered.

Termites ... oh no!

We began immediately opening, pulling, pushing -- trying every little space to see where the termites had been. We discovered two cupboards where they had set up home, having eaten the back sections of both storage units. These critters had also made a pathway along walls and the floor, all behind or underneath something.

We made our most interesting discovery, however, when we found the three cardboard boxes on the floor. Each looked quite sturdy, but as we began to move them, they crumbled. The outside looked like a normal box. Inside, however, each box was eaten away to be only paper-thin.

In life, the devil sneaks in behind and underneath things. If he is allowed, he will set up home in the hidden places in our lives. His "team" of destruction then sets about eating away at our lives till there is only an empty shell left.

Today, let the apostle Paul remind you that your strength must come from the Lord's mighty power within you:

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT)

Bruce is a teacher, adult-educator, preacher, writer, father (of two teens), husband (of 21 years), surfer, and lover of mountains. He is part of the Just a Minute writing team.

Website: Just a Minute