Turning Loose the Leaves - Martin Wiles

As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. Genesis 8:22 NLT

The leaves fell, and I knew there were some things I needed to let fall as well.

During one autumn week, the wind blew, and the leaves descended like dive-bombers from the trees. I watched maple trees, filled with pulsating red leaves, release them, letting them tumble to the ground.

As my feet trudged through the mounded leaves, I thought of the above verse. What God had promised was happening. But just as surely as the trees freed their leaves, I too had to free my life of things that have a habit of hanging on if I were going to enjoy God’s best.

Bitterness was one leaf I had to let fall. Reasons for bitterness—against others, God, or both—can be numerous. Perhaps the trials of life have gotten us down, and we begin to wonder whether or not there is a God who cares. Maybe relationships or jobs have ended unexpectedly. When bitterness hangs on, life is miserable.

Unfair decisions are another leaf. These are made by others but affect us. The decision to end a job, a relationship, a contract, or even a life. We can’t control unfair decisions made by others. The feeling of being powerless leads to despair and can easily usher in hopelessness—and its bedfellow, depression.

Past hurts can hang like unfallen autumn leaves. Life is filled with them. We can hurt others, intentionally or unintentionally, and others can hurt us. Hurts … well, hurt. They put a damper on life. Wishing they could be undone only leads to further misery.

Unforgiveness is like the stubborn leaf that refuses to fall. Hurts must be forgiven, or bitterness and a life of misery will follow.

Physical pain is also an unwelcome leaf. Especially when doctors can’t find the cause, when medicine isn’t doing the trick, or when my prayers for God’s healing don’t bring relief.

While we may have no control over physical pain or others’ unfair decisions that hurt us, we can avoid the leaves of bitterness and unforgiveness. What’s in the past is in the past and should stay there. Reliving it or using it as an excuse for present unwise behavior keeps the leaf from falling where it can do what God designed it to do.

Let the unhealthy leaves fall from your life tree and enjoy the life God gives you.

Father, give me power to let go of those things that keep me from the abundant life you offer. 

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.

Stamps for Trade - Martin Wiles

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke12:15 NLT

Who would have thought a book of stamps would buy what I wanted?

As an additional marketing tactic to attract customers, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores offered Greenback stamps. A small machine was located just above the cash register. The cashier punched in the amount the customer had purchased, and the machine distributed stamps. Consumers then licked the stamps and placed them in books.

Mom didn’t particularly like to lick stamps, so she gave me that job with the reward of getting the stamps. The Greenback company had a store in my hometown and distributed a catalog showing items available for purchase. For a young boy who loved to spend money he didn’t have or should have saved, this arrangement suited me fine.

As the blank books began filling, I’d peruse the catalog to see what I wanted. I wasn’t interested in household items—only those things that suited a young boy’s fancy. The joy I felt as I made my way to the Greenback store was only dampened if the store was out of my planned purchase.

At the time, I hadn’t learned what Jesus taught. I still thought things could make me happy. Years later, I’m still working on learning the lesson since it goes against the grain of my human nature.

Of course, Jesus didn’t teach that things were wrong; He just warned against the attachment and disappointment effect they often have. When considering a purchase or investment, I’ve learned to consider several things.

Can I use the item in God’s Kingdom work? If I can’t—even in some small way--maybe it’s not the best thing for me to invest my money in.

Will purchasing this item bring me closer to God? If it’s a Bible, the answer is easy; if it’s a flat-screened television or an all-terrain vehicle, I might have to be ingenious.

Could the item I’m buying steal my focus from God? The answer to this question prompts me to consider the item’s long-term possibilities.

Is buying the item sinful? While some things are morally neutral but carry the potential to become sinful, some things are just sinful—plain and simple.

Jesus was right. Life shouldn’t be measured by what or how much we have. Life is about him and our relationship to him.

Measure the value of what you have by whom you’re related to.

Father, may we learn that in You we have all we’ll ever need. 

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WESTERN STYLE RICE SKILLET

 

Ingredients

1½ POUND GROUND CHUCK (BROWNED AND DRAINED)

½ TEASPOON SALT

1 PACK ONION SOUP MIX

1½ CUP WATER

¾ CUP UNCOOKED RICE

1 16-OUNCE CAN TOMATOES (UNDRAINED)  

1 CAN ENGLISH PEAS (DRAINED)         

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEESE

Directions

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS EXCEPT CHEESE IN A SAUCEPAN.

SIMMER FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES.

STIR TO MIX WELL.

POUR INTO A BAKING DISH AND TOP WITH CHEESE.

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR ONE HOUR.

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When God Thunders - Martin Wiles

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. Psalm 18:13 NLT

We counted—1 1,000, 2 1,000, 3 1000—and then ran for cover. 

One church my father pastored was populated by farming families, one of whom grew hundreds of acres of watermelons. When the watermelon farmer offered me a part-time job in the afternoons, I accepted. 

The fields were shrouded with weeds as tall as I was. Humidity sweltered, and I sweated and choked for air as I heaved the watermelons onto the back of the farm truck. The midsummer climate made conditions perfect for afternoon thunderstorms. When we saw the first flash of lightning, we counted. Three seconds equaled a mile. If we didn’t get to 3 1,000s before we heard the clap of thunder, we ran for whatever cover we could find.

I’ve repeated the same procedure while hiking in the mountains. Thunder is the sound of lightning, and though the chances of being struck by lightning are slim, the chances increase when I’m in an unprotected environment. 

When the psalmist described God’s approach to deal with his enemies, he chose the sound of thunder. Thunder is frightening because of its association with lightning. And God’s power can be just as frightening or comforting—depending on whether I’m His friend or enemy. 

Thunder can be a low rumble or an ear-piercing clap. The first doesn’t normally frighten me, but the second sends me scurrying for cover. Hearing God can be similar. Sometimes his voice heard in my spirit is loud and clear, while at other times it’s barely perceptible. 

Unconfessed sin will keep us from hearing God, but sin isn’t the only thing that makes his voice sound like a rumble instead of a loud clap. Busyness, misplaced priorities, and selfishness can all play a part. 

Several conclusions, however, do bring comfort. God is continuously speaking to our spirits. Things in our lives may soften his whisper, but he speaks nevertheless. God wants us to hear him. When we don’t, we tend to do things our way, which leads us astray. Preparing daily to hear God is crucial. Beginning the morning with a prayer asking him to speak clearly and to help you hear clearly helps. Praying on the armor he provides is also a good follow-up (Ephesians 6:11-18). 

Do whatever is necessary to hear God when he thunders.

Father, enable me to hear you clearly when you speak from the heavens. 

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.

Curing the Whines - Rita Pueschner

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV

Felicia, my feline child, had the whines one afternoon. Her constant, high-pitched meowing grated on my nerves and left me wondering what she wanted. She showed no interest in playing with Jingles the jellyfish or any of her other toys scattered across the living room floor. We’d had lunch and cuddle time, but evidently catnap time wasn’t on her agenda. She didn’t even want to practice her tunnel tumbling. Things were just not to her liking. I guess she’s forgotten about the year and a half she spent confined to a cage at an animal rescue before I adopted her. She has gone from being homeless to becoming queen of the household. She should be grateful. Where is her appurrciation? She needed to learn a little about curing the whines.

On that thought, God reminded me of my own whiny tendencies. Sometimes, things are just not to my liking either. Perhaps my well-laid plans have gone awry, or I’ve been disappointed, and the whining begins. 

But then I look around and see how God has blessed me. I look within myself and see a woman transformed by His forgiveness and grace—rescued from a wayward, self-indulgent lifestyle. I’ve gone from being on a downward spiral of sin to becoming a cherished child of God Most High, who has promised me an eternal home with Him in heaven. So what do I have to whine about? Where is my appreciation?

The Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Our joy in the Lord should be based on who He is to us—not on how things are going for us. I’ve found that when I get a case of the whines, the best cure is to recall all that God has done for me and show Him my gratitude through thanksgiving and praise. When we focus on God’s goodness and His loving presence in our lives, our whining gives way to rejoicing. 

If you get the whines, pause and reflect on everything you have to be grateful for. Spend time with God, thanking Him for who He is and what He’s done for you. Rejoice in God’s goodness, even when things don’t seem purrfect.

Rita Pueschner is a recent retail retiree and is excited about pursuing new opportunities to do God’s work. She was almost fifty when she acknowledged her need for salvation, and God transformed her life by His amazing grace. Now she wants to share her faith through writing and to encourage others in their Christian walk. Rita leads a prayer ministry for people and their pets and is a devoted cat mom.

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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.

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