Loving the Misfits - Martin Wiles

Then he (Jesus) added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’” Matthew 9:13 NLT

Carrying a flag, Jeffrey walked the streets of our city.

At one time, seeing a homeless person in our small town was odd. Then Jeffrey showed up. His long hair and scruffy beard waved in the wind, like the flag he carried. I thought he must have landed here from some far-away state. Then I learned from a friend—whose church he had visited—that he lived in the next town over. Because of drug use—and the resulting mental issues—his family had disowned him. 

Occasionally, Jeffery disappeared. Usually because he had been arrested for some minor infraction. After a few weeks, he would reappear, only to disappear again. Once, the authorities arrested him for threatening firemen. He thought they had stolen his bicycle—another of his prized possessions, along with his flag and shopping cart. 

My wife and I saw Jeffrey often since he adopted the street corner two blocks from our subdivision. Recently, he stood there in the dark, wearing dark clothes and dancing to the music only he could hear. We’ve also witnessed him cursing the cross planted on the corner where someone was hit and killed. And cursing the “Sidewalk Closed” sign when the road crew was repairing the road. His antics are comical—yet sad. 

On several occasions, people have tried to help Jeffrey. One paid for him to spend time in a nearby city’s rehab facility to get cleaned up from drugs. Perhaps it worked for a while, but his later antics demonstrated that the demons had overtaken his life again. 

When I see Jeffrey, I wonder how Jesus would respond to him. The religious leaders were good at obeying the letter of the law, but Jesus reminded them there was more. He wanted to see mercy—the mercy he showed to the Jeffreys of his world. 

I can imagine Jesus sitting and conversing with Jeffrey, questioning him about his beliefs and what brought him to this point in his life. I can imagine him offering him something to eat or a place to stay. I can also see him giving Jeffrey the freedom to make his own life choices. Whatever Jesus would do, it would be tainted with mercy. He loved the world’s misfits—and we should too. 

When you see those the world terms misfits, love them as Jesus would.

Father, give me a heart of love for those who need to experience your love. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Ritzy Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

2 SLEEVES OF RITZ CRACKERS

1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN

1 CAN CREAM OF MUSHROOM

1 CUP SOUR CREAM

½ CAN CHICKEN BROTH

2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER

4-6 CHICKEN BREASTS (COOKED)

Directions

CRUMBLE ONE SLEEVE OF CRACKERS IN THE BOTTOM OF A GREASED CASSEROLE DISH.

DRIZZLE HALF OF THE MELTED BUTTER OVER THE CRACKERS.

MIX CHICKEN WITH SOUPS, SOUR CREAM, AND BROTH.

POUR OVER CRACKERS.

CRUSH REMAINING CRACKERS OVER CHICKEN MIXTURE AND DRIZZLE REMAINING BUTTER ON TOP.

BAKE AT 350 FOR 30-40 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Tools of the Shed - Martin Wiles

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. Acts 9:15 NLT

Dad’s first woodworking project began in a small storage shed.

Dad pastored churches full-time, but his hobby was working with wood. He took up the hobby while pastoring a country church in the lower regions of South Carolina. Since the congregation was small, he had more time on his hands than normal. A small storage shed out back where yard implements and the lawnmower were kept became his first wood shop. And his first projects were wooden picture frames on which he glued outdoor scenes. 

By the time Dad retired, he had purchased a large shed and filled it with all sorts of woodworking tools. Table saws, band saws, planes, routers, sanders, and drill presses. Anything he needed for a project. Also hammers, screwdrivers, pencils, screws, nails, and dowels. And when he finished for the day, he returned everything he had used to its place. Eventually, his small projects evolved into larger ones, such as bedroom suites, tables, and China cabinets.

As Dad had special tools, so did God: Paul. But Ananias wasn’t excited when God told him about this special tool. Ananias knew him as a persecutor and killer of Christians, not someone friendly to religious folks. What he didn’t know was that God had changed Saul’s heart and would use him as a tool to spread the gospel across the known world. 

Similarly, as believers, we’re all special tools in God’s shed, each with a particular purpose. Dad didn’t use a saw to hammer a nail, nor did he use a hammer to drive in a screw (although Mom might). And he used the drill press to drill holes, not to cut wood. 

God gives us tools that match our personality and his plan for us. Many of Dad’s tools outlasted him and were passed down to my middle brother. God also used Paul until he died and wants to do the same for us. 

In the latter years of his woodworking hobby, Dad began stamping his name on what he made. Tool companies do the same. Older tools manufactured by popular companies are valuable because of their name. God has also stamped his brand name on believers, giving us value and use for a lifetime. 

Let God help you discover the tool you are so you can get busy with the work he wants you to do.

Father, thank you for using me as a tool in your Kingdom work. Help me to be faithful in the work you assign. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Pen - Lynne Phipps

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 1 Samuel 16:13 NIV

During the summer months, I keep my miniature horse, Frank, and his companion Minnie, the donkey, in a pen attached to the barn throughout the day. Once evening arrives, I release them into the corral where they can graze all night until the sun rises. Why, you might ask? 

Dr. Noman Tariq explains: 

Grass is most risky for horses at certain peak times. In the spring, new growth means high levels of sugar and starch. After a frost, stressed plants build up even more sugar. These changes can lead to laminitis, obesity, and other health issues. Horses at risk should have limited turnout during these periods. The weather has a significant impact on the amount of sugar in grass. Sunny days raise sugar levels, and cold nights stop plants from using it, so it builds up by morning. 

Miniature horses and donkeys are especially prone to laminitis and diabetes, so keeping them penned up when grass sugar levels are highest is important for maintaining their good health. Although Frank and Minnie are not pleased and don’t understand their situation, I know why keeping them penned is important, and that’s what really counts.

Sometimes, we feel penned in too, just as I’m sure David did after being anointed as King and then having to wait approximately twenty years to finally take the throne. God, however, knew that David needed not only to be anointed king but also to mature spiritually, emotionally, and mentally before he could be the kind of King who could rule wisely. The throne did not come to David until God knew that he was ready for the task at hand.

Likewise, because God’s timing is always perfect, He often makes us wait a time before the way opens, allowing us to move forward in a certain direction. Understanding that this is not a punishment but a time for the Holy Spirit to mature and grow as God deems fit allows us to wait more patiently and spend time praising Him for the good work He is doing within us. In the end, we will be well equipped for the good work He has prepared for us.

Enjoy the pens in which God places you, knowing they have a purpose. 

Father God, thank You that Your timing is always perfect. Remind us through the power of Your Holy Spirit that waiting on You is not wasted time, but a time to grow, mature, and praise You for the good work You are doing in us, so that in turn, we might accomplish the good work You have prepared for us to do. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

When God Hides - Martin Wiles

He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds. Psalm 18:11 NLT

I knew it was there, but I couldn’t see it. 

When a New or Full Moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to the Earth, meteorologists call it a Supermoon. I wanted to see this one—it was the first occurrence since January 26, 1948—but I couldn’t. Several wildfires raged nearby, and each morning and evening, a thick coat of smoke veiled the sky, shutting out my view of the stars and now the Supermoon. Add to that the geography of our neighborhood—tall trees and other nearby townhouses—and my wish to witness this marvel of nature went ungranted. 

The psalmist was hounded by enemies, one in particular—a jealous king. But he wasn’t worried. Using picturesque words to describe the indescribable, he recounted how God came down to save him. Mounted on an angelic being, God soared on the wings of the wind with storm clouds beneath his feet. But he also shrouded himself in darkness so his enemy couldn’t see his approach. 

God has been known to hide Himself. For thirteen years, Joseph must have wondered about God’s whereabouts. Joseph’s jealous brothers hated him and sold him to a band of traders who took him to Egypt and sold him again. Falsely accused of trying to rape the king’s wife, Joseph was cast into prison where he was promptly forgotten. For two more years, he languished in squalid conditions until God suddenly turned his situation around and promoted him to prime minister of Egypt. 

Just because we don’t see the hand of God in our situations doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Jesus promised never to leave or forsake us—and he doesn’t. He works behind the scenes, orchestrating the events of our lives, thwarting the enemy's schemes, and manufacturing good. Our duty is simply to trust in his sovereignty, unconditional love, and power. 

When God hides, we must wait for him to show himself. Biblical waiting is not inactivity. We continue doing the last thing he told us to do until he opens another door and provides clear guidance on a change of direction. 

God may appear to be hidden, but he is never absent from the details of your life. Trust in that promise daily. 

Father, I thank You for always being near, whether I perceive you or not. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Roast and Gravy

 

Ingredients

1 CAN CREAM OF MUSHROOM WITH ROASTED GARLIC SOUP

1 CAN BEEF BROTH             

1 ENVELOPE ONION SOUP MIX

3 ½ POUND ROUND ROAST

2 TABLESPOONS PLAIN FLOUR

1 TEASPOON SALT

½ TEASPOON PEPPER

2 TABLESPOONS OIL

Directions

STIR FIRST 3 INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A 5 ½ QUART SLOW COOKER.

SPRINKLE ROAST EVENLY WITH FLOUR, SALT, AND PEPPER.

IN A LARGE DUTCH OVEN, BROWN ROAST EVENLY.

TRANSFER ROAST TO SLOW COOKER.

COVER AND COOK ON LOW FOR 8 HOURS.

REMOVE ROAST AND SLICE.

SKIM FAT FROM GRAVY AND WHISK.

SERVE OVER ROAST.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Cry Out to God - Martin Wiles

But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6 NLT

She raised up on the bed, writhing in pain. 

I’d watched my wife suffer with kidney stones before. Once, over the course of a week, her abdominal pain worsened to the point that it merited a trip to the local emergency room. After a shot of morphine and a CT, the doctors sent her home. No explanation—but no emergency either. 

Four days later, the pain intensified, so we made another trip. As pains shot through her abdomen, causing her to almost come off the bed, nurses shot her with morphine—again. Nothing helped. After changing the pain medication, she finally found some relief. Seeing her pain—and hearing my frustration—the doctor finally consented to perform another CT scan. This time, the culprit raised its ugly head: diverticulitis. 

I’ve watched others struggle with more pain than my wife experienced. Some cry out to God, and some cry out against God. Others curse and cry. Some bite their tongues and close their eyes. The psalmist chose to cry out to God. A jealous king and other enemies pursued him. He needed deliverance. And David believed God heard him.

Jesus was God’s representative on earth. He said to see him was to see the Father. He also proclaimed that he always did the Father’s will. One trait he demonstrated consistently was concern for others. He continually went about doing good. As people heard of his love and miracles, they either hounded him when he visited their region or left their homes to find him. 

Jesus still cares when we face distressing circumstances. And there is no end to the things that can cause us pain, sorrow, frustration, and confusion. Regardless of what it is, Jesus wants us to cry out to him as David did. Time is of no concern. God is awake continuously. He doesn’t require rest or sleep. Nor is he confined by time or place. 

How God hears the thousands who pray at the same time is unexplainable and takes a leap of faith to believe. But he does, and he demonstrates it by answering our prayers according to His will. 

When you’re in distress, call on the one who always cares and who will always answer. 

Father, thank you for coming to me and delivering me in my moments of distress. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.