For the Joy of All Nations

4:57 PM Posted by Cody and Dannielle Wilbanks

Und1vided

"Jesus needs to learn how to share."

That's what my life has been saying. It is a ridiculous saying but the truth is I have been asking Him to share my heart with many things. I was challenged with this thought when I read this verse:

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11

David is saying here that though he knows God and longs for Him, there is a pull to other things or people and often he gave more attention to those than God. There was division in his heart.

Jesus addressed these issues during His time on earth. Confronting materialism and the love for money He said: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24

In giving us the Greatest Commandment He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37

It is scary to think I have expected the God of the universe, my Savior, to share the passion of my heart with temporal things. This psalm has challenged me to ask God to "give me an undivided heart." It is my desire in the coming year to have a singular passion: Jesus Christ. It is to be that passion that determines my actions, my thoughts, my words, my decisions, and my motives.

What about you? Do you see division in your heart? What have you asked Jesus to share your heart with?

Will you join me in striving to have an und1vided heart this year?

3:28 PM Posted by Cody and Dannielle Wilbanks

Italy Update

After being scolded by a "friend" for not updating my blog I felt convicted to post about our recent trip to Italy. :)

We spent a week at the beginning of December in Rome with our partners, Jon and Becky Liles. We had several goals for this trip. We wanted to spend time with the Liles, meet the people who could potentially help us get our visas, get an idea of where to live, and bring along a friend who is praying about the possibility of short term ministry in Italy in her future.

Here are some pictures from our trip.

Dannielle, our friend Stephanie, and Becky in Piazza Barberini

Becky hosted and the girls helped with a Christmas party for many of her friends in their town. Many of them do not know Christ. It was a successful evening of relationship building.

Dannielle and Cody in front of the Fontana di Trevi

A statue in the "Immaculate Conception Room" at the Vatican Museum. Just another reminder of Italy's need for truth.

We are more excited than ever about what God is going to do in Italy. Please continue to pray for us in raising our support and for fruit in Italy.

If you would like to see more pictures, please visit Cody's facebook page.

7:47 AM Posted by Cody and Dannielle Wilbanks

The Focused Life of Missions

As I (Cody) was reading my devotions this morning, I was challenged by the commitment and focus of Paul. I thought I would share it with you.

Paul writes in Romans 15:20-21, "And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: 'To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.'”

Paul's life focus was to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. That goal consumed his life, which should be true of ours too. Paul was radically changed by this message and was eternally grateful for what God had done in His life and Paul also knew the responsibility he now bore of bringing that same message to the peoples of the world.

Our family has been called to take this same message that has changed us to the nations of the world. Our piece of this huge puzzle of world evangelization, is the nation of Italy. Though the Italian people know the name of Christ, they are largely void of knowing the true Christ, the One who died once for all and offers them the gift of salvation. The terrible reality is that there are 33,500 cities, towns, and village in Italy representing over 58 million people. Yet only 1,500 of them have any type of established evangelical witness. There is an immense task of seeing churches planted where Christ is virtually unknown.

Paul, after declaring his purpose in verse 20 and 21, then says in verse 22, "For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you."

Paul had a desire and longing to see the believers that were there in Rome, but because he had a job to do, it had to wait. This is the tough truth about our calling. There are things we may want, people we may want to be around, and other things we want to do, but we must remain focused on the task at hand, to preach Christ in Italy. We have an enormous responsibility, and privilege, to be good stewards of the gospel message. We must bring the story of grace and redemption to those who desperately need it.

Will you pray that we can remain focused and determined to follow in that calling? What about you, are you sharing in that same call, to all believers, to reach the people around you and around the world, which might mean having to give up some things?

Let's remain focused and driven to see Christ proclaimed and glorified among the nations. He deserves no less!

3:38 PM Posted by Cody and Dannielle Wilbanks

A Pink Tutu & A Purple One, Too!

Thanks to our good friend, Katie, we have the cutest pictures ever of our two little girls... Aubrey Anna (pretty in pink) at 6 1/2 months old (now 3 years old) and Brylie Kate (pretty in purple) at 7 1/2 months old. Aren't they just the cutest little ballerinas ever!

1:47 PM Posted by Cody and Dannielle Wilbanks

My First Crawfish Boil

We have been in some great churches this spring. One of those churches is Bible Baptist in DeQuincy, LA. We had a great time in their Missions Conference last week. The people are extremely friendly and have a huge heart for missions. This was my (Cody) first time to ever be in Louisiana and I was able to experience my first crawfish boil! I was unsure of it at first but I can say that it was pretty good. Thanks again to the people of Bible Baptist. We are excited to partner with you to reach Italy for Christ!