Book of Books - Martin Wiles

For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Hebrews 4:12 NLT

No book exists forever … except one.

Collecting old books is a hobby I treasure. I have amassed hundreds of books dating from the 1800’s. One I happened upon was dated 1821. For its age, the book remained in excellent condition. The inside page noted a Charleston, South Carolina, library had housed it. I quickly grabbed it, took it to the register, and gave them two dollars. But despite its condition, one day, it too will deteriorate.

Only one book will last forever, and the writer of Hebrews tells why. The Bible is living--not bound by covers that will fade, crumble, separate from pages, and finally dissolve or be tossed away. No material that books are made from is indestructible—the Bible included. But God’s Word won’t disappear because the covers and pages deteriorate.

God's Word Is a Person

The Word of God is more than covers and paper. It is a person. John wrote, “In the beginning, the Word already existed” (John 1:1). God gave his Word to writers, but it existed before then and will continue to exist even if all Bibles are destroyed.

God's Spirit Preserves His Word

God’s life-giving Spirit preserves his Word, and he is more powerful than any force imaginable. The Word is sharper than the sharpest knife, slicing deep into our innermost beings to expose our true selves so that we might compare our current state with what God wants. When God reveals the gap, we can petition him for guidance to bridge the chasm.

God's Word Is Meant to Be Handled

I shelve my old books. Some I wrap in cellophane. Rarely do I read any of them. Turning the pages would only hasten their demise. Not so with God’s Word. God wants us to handle, digest, and experience it.

Let God’s eternal Word shape your actions and attitudes.

Father, enable your Word to become alive in my life.

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.

Taco Tarts

Ingredients

1 POUND HOT SAUSAGE

1 BOTTLE RANCH DRESSING

            2 CUPS SHREDDED TACO CHEESE                  

AZTEC SHELLS

    Directions
COOK AND DRAIN SAUSAGE.

MIX SAUSAGE, CHEESE, AND RANCH DRESSING TOGETHER.

SPOON INTO SHELLS AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 12-15 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.

Unashamed - Martin Wiles

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 NLT

Some things that I was ashamed of growing up, I’m now ashamed I was ashamed of.

Until my middle school years, I was proud of my parents. While they didn’t give me everything I wanted, they gave me all I needed. I never had to wear raggedy clothes or holey shoes. Mom prepared home-cooked meals, and our cabinets were never bare. Although my parents were not lovey-dovey, they always acted in ways that let me know I was loved. Abusive or negative words never flowed from their mouths. They wanted the best for their three sons.

When I reached the teenage years, my attitude changed. Suddenly, feelings of shame over who my parents were arose. I didn’t enjoy telling people my father was a preacher because then they labeled me a “PK.” They expected me to be good all the time. And the rules I had previously willingly obeyed now seemed foolish. Being made to go to church every time the doors were opened didn’t help either. Many of my friends never darkened a church’s doors.

Reflecting now, I’m ashamed that I ever was ashamed of my parents. Unfortunately, I was sometimes ashamed of what Paul proclaims loudly that he isn’t ashamed of: the gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn’t like others to know I was a preacher’s kid. I certainly didn’t flaunt my faith and rarely shared it.

Things changed when I was in my mid-twenties. I adopted Paul’s attitude—and for good reason. The gospel is good news, and people need to hear some good news. After all, bad news is almost all we hear from media sources. Telling people they are loved unconditionally and can be forgiven of their sins is encouraging news worth spreading.

I’m not ashamed to share something that includes an invitation for everyone. God excludes none except those who refuse on their own volition to come. Nor am I ashamed to share something that has eternal consequences. Refusing to accept God’s gospel means an eternity in a less-than-pleasant place.

Sharing news that has the power to change lives is something to be proud of, not ashamed of. When we receive the good news of the gospel, everything changes: our outlook on life, our priorities, our relationships, and our eternity.

Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Father, give me the fortitude to boldly proclaim the best news I could ever share.

 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.

Little Things Matter - Martin Wiles

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. Luke 16:10 NLT

His absence almost caused a catastrophe in the coffee café room.

I never paid much attention to what Bill did—until he was absent one Sunday. Noticing that he wasn’t there at his usual time, I plugged the coffee machines in, thinking he was running behind. When it became evident he wasn’t coming, another gentleman and I hurriedly prepared the coffee, only to have the first pot turn out cold, weak, and full of grounds. That night, after the evening services, I made my rounds to lock the buildings. When I came to the coffee room, I noticed both pots were still on—one hosting a carafe with baked coffee.

Those who visit our coffee café probably take what Bill does for granted, as I did. His absence reminded us how critical little things are. Jesus thought so too and taught that a person’s faithfulness in doing small things would lead to greater responsibilities.

We typically measure greatness by our titles, how much we’ve accomplished, or how many people we manage. Not so in Jesus’ economy. He’s more concerned about our attitudes and motives—the whys behind our actions. If done for the wrong reasons or with ulterior motives, the doing doesn’t count, at least not in his eyes.

By our definition of greatness, quantity is important. Jesus, however, considers quality. Whatever he gives us to do, he wants us to do it well—even if it’s no more than making the morning coffee at church. Doing the little things also fosters humility—a trait highly praised by God.

A lot of people doing a multitude of little things is what makes God’s Kingdom advance. We may hear more about the larger churches or the more influential movers and shakers, but the no-names who work faithfully at their respective churches and in their communities make large impacts for Christ.

Be faithful in whatever God gives you to do—even if it appears to be a small task.

Father, thank you for your faithfulness to me. May I be just as faithful to you. 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.

When the Tent of Unity Disappears - Martin Wiles

And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. Philippians 4:2 NLT

“Sometimes, the circus is larger than the tent.”

My wife and I were mingling with a few church friends at one of the local funeral homes when I heard the remark. Why the subject of people not getting along came up, I’m not sure, but the statement holds so much truth and is similar to a more well-known quote: “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

As we talked, my wife contended that women are more likely to be contentious than men. Perhaps Paul would agree. He had two he could shove forward as examples. One gentleman disagreed. He worked with nothing but men and had several stories to tell about their contentiousness. Truthfully, the circus houses both.

Like Paul, I once knew two women who were church members and couldn’t get along. Both were strong-willed and enjoyed being in control. While one was more humble than the other and typically gave in, their disagreements always created a strong undercurrent in their relationship and also had a ripple effect in the church.

When the circus becomes larger than the tent, we forget several things. Believers are unified in Christ. This doesn’t mean we are clones, but we have a common bond—our belief in Christ and in the work he has given us. Remembering we share this bond with other believers should make us work harder to put aside what divides us from them and look harder at what attaches us to them.

Just because believers share a common faith doesn’t mean we share the same personalities. Obviously, Eudoia and Syntyche didn’t, and neither did the two ladies I worked with. I’ve discovered, though, that we can disagree without being contentious. Common ground always presents itself if we look.

The faith journey we're on isn’t all about us. It’s about our faithfulness to God and his Kingdom’s work. Our responsibility is to promote Christ, not ourselves or our selfish ideas. Our testimony, and the testimony of God’s church, lies at stake. And if the disagreement is such that we honestly can’t see a way to solve it, we can always find another church rather than ruin the reputation of the one we're attending.

Do what it takes to make the circus smaller than the tent. God wants his people unified in love. 

Father, help me love others in a bond of unity so my testimony before others will shine brightly. 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients
1 BAG FROZEN TATER TOTS

16 OUNCES SOUR CREAM

2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE 

1 CAN CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

1 6 OUNCE CAN FRENCH FRIED ONIONS

Directions
ARRANGE TATER TOTS IN A GREASED BAKING DISH.

IN A BOWL, MIX TOGETHER SOUP, CHEESE, AND SOUR CREAM.

POUR MIXTURE OVER TATER TOTS AND TOP WITH FRENCH FRIED ONIONS.

(photo courtesy of wearychef.)

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.

More Than Asked For - Martin Wiles

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Luke 6:38 NLT

I asked for a burger but received much more.

On one day, my wife and I stopped by a local burger joint to pick up our supper. The only thing special about our order is that our daughter’s BLT wasn’t supposed to have mayonnaise.

 

But as I enjoyed my burger, I noticed something protruding that was different in color than the green shredded lettuce. I pulled it out and discovered a piece of aluminum foil. Not one to be grossed out by such things, I kept eating. Later, as our daughter sat down to eat her BLT, she remarked, “There is mayonnaise on my sandwich. I didn’t ask for that.”

 

With a typical sarcastic quip, I remarked, “That’s okay. I got more than I asked for as well.”

 

Jesus always gives more than we ask for, …but sometimes stipulations follow. Regardless, the verse reminds me that God’s resources are unlimited. We can’t outgive God. Whatever we give, he can seize it, press it, mold it, shake it—and do whatever else He does—and produce more than we can imagine.

 

Our lack of faith is the only limitation to what God can do. His actions connect to our actions. If we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Since none of us ever moved a mountain, what we might consider as large faith is small in God’s sight.

 

Since God is more than willing to transform what we give, our paucity must be the result of several possibilities. Sometimes God doesn’t give because we don’t ask, because we ask with the wrong motives, or because we doubt God will give us what we ask for.

 

Despite our failures when it comes to giving or asking from God, he often overlooks our lack of faith or our weak faith and gives us more than we request—just as the burger joint gave me aluminum foil when I only asked for lettuce. That’s because God is a good, loving, and kind heavenly Father. Parents often give children things they don’t deserve, and God does the same. Whatever he gives will be for our good and his glory.

Praise God regularly for giving you more than you asked for.

Father, I thank you for your many gifts—none of which I deserve.

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, 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.