Series: Oh, the Things We Say: Fear the Lord - Martin Wiles

You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Deuteronomy10:20 NLT

Being around something or someone I’m scared of is not my favorite thing to do. Nor was my favorite thing being told to fear the Lord.

I have real and perceived fears. My fear was real when bears entered a fellow camper’s campsite and devoured their food—twice. My son and I were camped in a three-sided shelter a mere fifty feet away. The same bears could have easily walked into our shelter and devoured us.

As a child, my fear of the dark could have been real or imagined. Although Dad was fond of saying there was nothing in the dark that wasn’t there in the light, I never believed him. Some dangers are present at night that are not present during the day. But I did imagine some of my fears associated with darkness.

Early in life, Dad taught me to fear the Lord. At the same time, he wanted me to love the Lord. I don’t typically love or choose to be around those I fear. If I fear them, I perceive that some danger hangs around them. Loving and fearing God seemed like an ironic situation, and I was unsure of how to do both.

The command combines fear, worship, and association. If we usually avoid what we fear, but God wants us to worship and associate with him, fear must have another definition. And it does. Fear can involve being afraid of something or someone. Defined in such a manner, we would avoid that person or thing. Fear can also mean to reverence. And this is the definition God has in mind when he tells us to fear him.

When we reverence God, we stand in awe of him. In one sense, we should fear him. He has life and death power over our existence. With the utterance of one command, our hearts would stop and our breath cease. He is sovereign over people and the universe.

Although fear can involve fright, God wants us to love and revere him. So great was his desire for fellowship with people that he allowed his Son to die for our sins on Calvary. We should stand in awe of Him, but we also consider him as our Savior and friend. He has accepted us into his family and invited us to come into his presence as often as we like.

Let your fear of God lead you to him, not away.

Father, I love you for who you are and for what you’ve done on my behalf. 

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Noisy World. No one escapes life's hurts, but quiet places help us regain our perspective. 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.

Series: Oh, the Things We Say: I Know How You Feel - Martin Wiles

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21 NLT

Tragedy had struck. What could I say? I was tempted to resort to “I know how you feel.” But then, I thought better.

I’ve watched people endure their share of tragedies. A husband whose wife decided to drive while drunk. Her actions led to the death of their small child. A father whose daughter was innocently riding her bike through their subdivision and was hit and killed. Good friends whose daughter tried to ride a bicycle that was too large and accidentally rolled into the path of an oncoming truck. A couple whose child was born prematurely and languished in the neonatal intensive care unit for months and then grew up mentally challenged.

I’ve probably been guilty of saying it, but even if I haven’t, I’ve heard many others say those infamous words: “I know how you feel,” or “I know what you’re going through.” Innocent words spoken with good intentions, but words that mean little if anything to the one who is grieving—and perhaps questioning God at the same time.

Mary and Martha were probably feeling a little confused themselves. Their brother, Lazarus, was sick. So they sent for Jesus, thinking he would heal him. Instead of coming immediately, Jesus waited until Lazarus had died. Martha was confused.

Even if we’ve experienced something similar to what a person is going through, saying “I know how you feel” isn’t the best response to their grief. We don’t know how they feel. We know how we felt, but we can’t get inside their body and experience their emotions. The statement usually falls on deaf ears. They may also perceive the words as an empty platitude that means nothing.

When a person is grieving, spending time with them and saying little is a good practice. If we feel the need to speak, saying, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through” or “How can I help?” are better statements. Better yet is thinking of some way to help without asking the person. In their state of mind, they usually can’t think of what they need anyway. If we have experienced something similar to their tragedy, we can always share our story and tell how God brought us through.

Depend on God to give you the right thing to say when you’re helping a grieving person.

Father, as you comfort me in my time of grief, so give me wisdom to know how to help others in their times of grief.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods: Quiet Escapes in a Noisy World. No one escapes life's hurts, but quiet places help us regain our perspective. 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.

Brunswick Stew

 

Ingredients

3 POUNDS CHICKEN (COOKED, DEBONED)

        

1 STICK BUTTER

SALT/PEPPER

3 POUNDS BEEF (COOKED, REMOVE FAT)

                       

3 POUNDS PORK (COOKED, LEAVE A LITTLE FAT)

          

3 16 OUNCE CANS OF TOMATOES (CRUSHED)

           

1 LARGE ONION (CHOPPED)

3 16 OUNCE CANS OF CORN

Directions

CHOP ALL THE MEAT ALONG WITH THE ONIONS, TOMATOES, AND CORN.

PUT IN A LARGE POT.

ADD BUTTER AND SALT/PEPPER.

SIMMER 30 TO 40 MINUTES.

 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Pointed in the Right Direction - Martin Wiles

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6 NLT

Although I could see the tower from my front porch, its proximity did me little good. Why couldn't it be pointed in the right direction? 

My wife and I were living in a small town. Like many others, we had decided not to forego a landline and use our cell phones only, since cell reception was terrible. I could see our provider’s tower idling less than one mile away, so I couldn’t understand why I had to stand near a window or go outside to be heard clearly or to avoid dropping a call. Until I called to complain.

“I’ll put in a work order,” the customer service representative said as I explained my dilemma.

A few months later, I called back to find out the results. “Well, the satellites on the tower are pointed away from you. They always point them in the direction where the most people live.”

“Can’t you just send someone out to point them in my direction?” I queried.

She laughed and said, “It’s not that easy.”

At some point, I guess they did because reception eventually improved. It reminded me of how important it is to have things, myself included, pointed in the right direction. The wisdom writer thought so also. Trusting in the Lord with all our heart and seeking his will in everything we do keeps me on the right path.

Being pointed in the right direction means we have to walk by faith, using a sixth sense rather than the five we typically use to interact with things and others. When we walk by faith, we proceed through disappointing times believing God will construct things for the better in the end. When we walk by faith, we face financial setbacks with the hope that God will remain faithful to His Word and take care of our needs. Hitting relationship snags isn’t a problem either. We believe God will guide us through them as well by unkinking the kinks. Nor is needing daily guidance a problem for a future-seeing God. We may not be able to research the answers we need, but the inner prompting of God’s Spirit will give us insight.

Point your life in the right direction and be amazed by how straight your path becomes.

Father, thank you for the promise of your guidance when I set my sights on you.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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 Dangers of a Greedy Spirit - Martin Wiles

Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:20 NLT

I sat in my recliner and watched injustice raise its ugly head. Oh, the dangers of a greedy spirit.

Six balls of various sizes floated around our den. More than enough for each of our three grandsons to have more than one. But they wanted the same one. Our youngest grandson played with one, minding his own business. The middle grandson wasn’t satisfied that he had five more to choose from. He wanted the one his cousin had. So he snatched it. Our youngest grandson crawled over and retrieved another ball, only to have his cousin snatch that one.

Amid this greedy drama, the oldest grandson decided he wanted the same ball his younger brother and cousin played with. So he snatched it from his brother, who in turn screamed bloody murder. It was time for me to intervene and teach them a lesson on sharing.

At the time, we cared for three small grandchildren in our home for six days a week, which provided us with many life lessons. One in particular had to do with greed. I noticed I didn’t have to teach them to be greedy; it came with the human territory. Instead, I had to spend my time teaching them to share and be kind.

God warned the nation of Israel to appoint judges who would see that justice prevailed. If they didn’t, the harmony of the country would be affected, and so would their relationship with their neighbors.

Greed gives evidence of a selfish spirit, and without God’s help, it will, like the jealousy monster, gobble us up. Life may seem more pleasant when it’s all about us, but God never designed anyone’s life to be just about them. His order is him first and others second. Our selfish desires come farther down the list. When they are near the top, we have misplaced priorities.

Only God can birth an unselfish spirit in us. Just as I have to instill that in my grandchildren through disciplinary and other teaching methods, so God has to do the same for me. But we must give him free rein to do so. Bucking his efforts keeps us from learning the lessons he wants to teach about how wonderful an unselfish lifestyle can be.

Instead of holding on to greed, let God teach you the joys of unselfishness.

Father, guide me to follow your unselfish example of giving your all to me. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Taking Advice from the Wrong Sources - Martin Wiles

Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Isaiah 8:19 NLT

To buy or not to buy, that was the question.

I was three years in on a four-year car mortgage when the transmission began slipping. These were the days when manufacturers built more sturdy outer shells for vehicles, but not engines. When the odometer reached 75,000 to 100,000 miles, it was time to trade. Mine was at 60,000. But the prices of cars had also risen over the last three years.

So I turned to my paternal grandfather. After all, he had grown up on the tail end of the Great Depression and was familiar with “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” He’d never owned a new car but had been particular when buying used ones.

“You can get your car fixed for the price of one car payment,” he said.

Sounded good, but I was getting the itch to trade cars anyway. A faulty transmission seemed like a good excuse.

“If you trade, you’re going to have four more years of payments,” he continued.”

I had thought of that too. At the time, someone could actually afford a four-year payment loan.

Although I consulted a reputable source, I didn’t follow his advice. I traded a good car that mechanics could have repaired for a modest price for four more years of higher payments. I regretted it later, but couldn’t undo my decision.

Isaiah warned his listeners against seeking advice from the wrong sources. Instead of going to a living God, they checked with mediums who supposedly consulted the dead for advice. Their actions were ludicrous—as were mine when I turned down sound advice.

Seeing signs that read “Spiritual Advisor” once was not that unusual. I’ve never been to one, but many have. Going there would be no different than Isaiah’s peers who consulted mediums. God is the only adequate and dependable spiritual advisor. While we can’t visit him in person or hear him audibly, we can know the mind of Christ.

God is our source for sound advice, and he gives the means to discover it through his Word, prayer, mature believers, and Christian counselors. Even some secular sources, when filtered through God’s Word, have sound information for making life decisions.

Make sure you consult the appropriate sources when seeking advice.

Father, guide me to the proper sources when I have decisions to make.

I invite you to try my book Mastering English Grammar Basics. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Butter Pecan Cake

 

Ingredients

1 BOX BUTTER PECAN CAKE MIX

4 EGGS

1/3 CUP VEGETABLE OIL

1 CUP MILK

½ CUP SUGAR

1 CAN COCONUT PECAN ICING

Directions

IN A BOWL, MIX ALL INGREDIENTS.

FOLD IN COCONUT PECAN ICING.

POUR INTO A GREASED TUBE PAN.

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 35 TO 40 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book Mastering English Grammar Basics. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.