New Identity Magazine

WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR, DOES HE OPEN A WINDOW?

Gary VanDeWalker — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 19:48:28 +0000

We might be surprised to find out what we have taken as the wisdom of God is really dialogue from a musical. In the Sound of Music, Maria wants to be a nun. The Reverend Mother tells her she must first go spend a few months as a governess taking care of seven children. She sees this as an unnecessary diversion and pauses on the way out and says, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a…

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GOD WILL NEVER GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE?

Gary VanDeWalker — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 21:48:47 +0000

Comfort is a commodity we always want to give people when we find them under the pain of suffering or an onerous task. When we stand beside someone who is laying in a hospital bed, we desire them to understand God’s compassion. When a huge job is given someone and they are bending under its weight, we want to find the words which will lighten the burden. The phrase moving over our lips is often…

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DOES GOD HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES?

Gary VanDeWalker — Mon, 01 May 2017 18:33:14 +0000

Photo Credit: Benjamin Balázs | Flickr (Creative Commons) A long the busy streets of Burbank, comedian and talk show host Jay Leno, once approached random people on the sidewalk with a biblical question. People were asked to name one of the Ten Commandments. With no close second, the number one response was “God helps those who help themselves.” This is a strange response, in light of the fact…

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TASTE AND SEE

Gary VanDeWalker — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 20:18:12 +0000

Photo Credit: T-617 | Flickr (Creative Commons) Imagine a group of dwarves huddled together in a stable. They are cold, hungry and scared. Their greatest fear is to be “taken in” by the notion that a lion exists who is the great king of their country. In an instance, the lion appears in their midst. With a shake of his mane, a feast appears before the dwarves. Each dwarf now holds a goblet of…

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MY ENEMY, THE DEVIL

Gary VanDeWalker — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 18:55:27 +0000

There are friends I would rather no one know I have. In the past, I’ve introduced you to two of these friends, World and Flesh. One surrounds me; the other is part of me. These should be my enemies. They distance me from God and dampen my love for Christ. However, I find myself drawing them closer than I should. The enemy that should repulse me most is often the one I pretend isn’t there…

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MY ENEMY IS ME

Gary VanDeWalker — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:55:38 +0000

Photo Credit: martinak15 @ Flickr (CC) There is an enemy of mine, living closer to me than any other. He comes with me wherever I go. He lives with me. No matter how fast I run, he is there. He remains with me because he is Flesh, the desires I have as a human being. As in, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NASB) A British newspaper, The Times…

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ENEMIES OF US: THE WORLD

Gary VanDeWalker — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:40:44 +0000

Photo by: Daniel Lee @ Flickr (Creative Commons) Most days, I live with my enemies. You might even mistake them for my friends, because at times I live to close to them. They are hard to avoid. They are older than me, more experienced, and able to make me fit into their circle. Let me introduce them and a three-part series where I’ll let you get to know each one better. Meet the World. John…

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