What appears secure sometimes isn’t. Money in banks may have appeared secure prior to 1933, but a bank panic could easily close a bank. People who feared a bank might close ran to the bank and withdrew their money. Since banks kept only a portion of the depositor’s money on hand, runs would result in depositors attempting to withdraw more money than a bank had on hand. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was established in 1933 to prevent such future losses. The FDIC has the responsibility of insuring a commercial bank’s deposits up to a certain amount so depositors don’t lose their money should the bank fail. Even though banks still fail, the FDIC ensures depositors won’t lose their money. Read more...
Friday, January 15, 2021
Flashback Friday - Security in Christ - Martin Wiles
What appears secure sometimes isn’t. Money in banks may have appeared secure prior to 1933, but a bank panic could easily close a bank. People who feared a bank might close ran to the bank and withdrew their money. Since banks kept only a portion of the depositor’s money on hand, runs would result in depositors attempting to withdraw more money than a bank had on hand. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was established in 1933 to prevent such future losses. The FDIC has the responsibility of insuring a commercial bank’s deposits up to a certain amount so depositors don’t lose their money should the bank fail. Even though banks still fail, the FDIC ensures depositors won’t lose their money. Read more...
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Gifted to Go - Martin Wiles
Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:2-3 NLT
He wanted to sign his name…but couldn’t.
As the end of the school year approached, I taught students how to write
a few types of letters they would need at some time in their lives: business,
cover, query, friendly. I explained the format and showed them examples on the
overhead and in their books.
All went well—until we got to the end. I instructed them to print their
name at the end, but to leave a couple of spaces between it and their closing
for their signature.
One of my more astute students raised his hand and said, “I don’t know
how to write in cursive.”
No one laughed because some of them didn’t know how to either. While we
teach cursive writing at our school, not all schools do, and some students who
have been homeschooled don’t learn it either.
Knowing that even in our techy world students still needed to know how
to sign their names, I walked over to the whiteboard and wrote the student’s
name in cursive. I gave him one thing he needed to succeed in life.
God did the same for Bezalel. He was one of the individuals God gifted
to help build the elements the Tabernacle would house. This tent preceded the
Temple, later built by Solomon, but contained the same items. Since this
building represented God’s presence with the people, it needed to be built with
care and reverence. So, God gifted those He charged with building and
furnishing it.
God does the same for His followers today. In several places, the Bible
lists spiritual gifts that God gives His children. We all have at least one—and
many have more than one. It’s even possible that the lists are not exhaustive.
Regardless of our gift(s), God’s design is for us to use them. If we
don’t, He’ll likely take them away and bless someone else with them. When we
use them, we help fulfill the overall purpose for existence—to build His
Kingdom—and we accomplish temporary goals God assigns during our life’s
journey.
Once we discover our gifts, we should ask God for opportunities to use
them. A part of the asking is putting ourselves in a place that would be a
likely area for God to use us. Asking God to give me a teaching opportunity,
but not attending church, wouldn’t make much sense.
Life is better when we use our gifts in service to God and others. Go
with what God has gifted you with.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gifts. Give us opportunities to use
them.
Tweetable: Are you using your gifts?
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Bottled-up Tears - Martin Wiles
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 NLT
With a 6 ¼-ounce glass Coke bottle, he defrosted freezers.
With few exceptions, such as at grocery stores, my grandfather knew
nothing about putting ice cream in freezers that didn’t need defrosting. The
ice cream freezers his company donated to customers—or the ones the customers
themselves owned—were not frost-free. Over time, chunks of ice accumulated on
the sides, making it difficult to stock the boxes of ice cream in them neatly.
When the ice reached a certain level, my grandfather would look for an
empty Coke crate in the store. These were the days when a person could return
empty bottles for a small deposit of money. Store owners kept the empty crates
after they put the bottles in the distributing machines.
My grandfather walked to the crate, picked up a small Coke bottle, and went
to work, using the bottom of the bottle to knock the ice loose from the sides
of the freezer. Within five minutes, he had defrosted the freezer and tossed
the ice outside in the hot sun to melt.
Nothing like a good bottle. I remember when companies first put their
soda products in aluminum cans. I hated it. It changed the entire taste of the
product. Then came plastic bottles. This improved the taste a little, but
nothing tastes like a soda—or any other drinkable liquid product—packaged in a
bottle. The product also stays colder. Give me a bottle any day.
The psalmist enjoyed bottles too. Not for drinking, but because God
bottled his tears in them. He had many sorrows during his lifetime—as most of
us do. But God took note of them and bottled them up.
God does the same for anyone. He loves us with unconditional love and
notices our life’s sorrows. Some tears He sends to mature us or to stretch our faith,
but many come because we live in a sin-infested world where things break down
and go awry.
But God does more than notice our sorrows. He bottles them, giving us
the strength to endure each one, no matter how intense they are. By depending
on the guidance of His Spirit, we discover the strength to put one foot in front of
the other when we don’t think we can. We grieve, but we keep moving until
things change—or until we accept our new norm.
Coke bottles eventually increased in size, and God’s bottle is large
enough to handle all your tears. Put them in His bottle.
Prayer: Father, thank You for bottling our tears so we can move on with
life.
Tweetable: Are your tears bottled up?
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Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Throwback Tuesday - Give What You Can and How You Should - Martin Wiles
When the bottom falls out, the money often follows.
Dropping from 50K annually to 13K was a shock…not only to me but also to my creditors. My bills were calculated around the higher number, so the appearance of the lower presented a challenge. I wasn’t Jesus. I couldn’t multiply the 13K and pay what the 50K once did.
I struggled with a decision: give my tithes and chance a few bills going
unpaid, or give and trust God to make up the difference. I consulted my pastor
about my unsought after dilemma. He understood and assured me God did as well.
Life can be sprinkled with those temporary times when I can’t give what my
heart desires…but I can give something.
Money would
have helped this poor beggar, but Peter had none. What he did have, however,
was more life-changing. Money would only have carried him through temporarily;
healing—physical and spiritual--took him much farther. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give
you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Acts 3:6 NLT
Regardless of
how much I give, there are some elements that should characterize what I give.
Cheerfulness is one. If I give grudgingly, the church can still use my money,
but God isn’t pleased with the gift. I give happily because God has given me so
much.
Regularity is
another. Paying my bills and establishing a budget is easier when I have consistent
income. God’s work is no different. Whether I give weekly, bi-monthly, or
monthly is unimportant. Regularity is.
Giving
proportionately and sacrificially is also essential. Whatever percent I decide
upon, it should be representative of my income. When it is, it will hurt to
give it. The pain reveals I’m giving proportionally.
Time and
talents are also involved in my giving. God wants more than my money. He wants
me…totally. He expects and enjoys it when I’m faithful with what he has
entrusted to me.
Are you
thanking God by your giving?
Prayer:
Father, Your mercies and gifts are new every morning. Prompt us to use them
faithfully in Your service.
Tweetable: How's your giving?
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Monday, January 11, 2021
Checking Off the Bucket List - Martin Wiles
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket, she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?” John 4:11 NLT
Sometimes, when you look for a bucket, you get a well.
A bucket list. Often, those who have them have received horrific medical
news. They will soon die, so they make a list of things they’d like to do
before they die.
I’ve not received a death sentence from a doctor, but I do have things
I’d like to accomplish before I die. Such as living in the mountains. As my
retirement nears, my wife and I are planning how we might swing this item on my
bucket list. I’d also like to visit Europe, especially Germany. And I’d also
like to meet in person the friends I have who live far away. Such as my
missionary friend in India and my pastor friend in Africa.
The woman at the well had a bucket list too. She tired of coming to the
well every day to draw water. Neither did she enjoy coming at the hottest part
of the day, but her reputation dictated it. She also had a greater thirst than
the physical one that haunted her daily. Dead-end relationships seemed her lot
in life.
Jesus told her how she could check her need off her bucket list: accept
Him and receive living water that would eternally quench her thirst.
Fortunately, she drank and checked all those items off her bucket list.
Some things everyone needs on their bucket list—whether they received
frightening medical news or not. After all, we’re all going to die, or our
earthly lives will end at Jesus’ Second Coming.
One is to experience satisfaction regardless of life’s situations. We
can because Jesus controls them.
Another involves knowing Jesus better. We should never be satisfied
where we are in our spiritual walk.
A third entails loving others more than we do ourselves. A selfless
attitude.
A fourth includes witnessing of God’s goodness to others, as the woman
did after she drank from Jesus’ well.
A fifth requires using the spiritual gifts and natural talents God gives
us to serve Him and others.
A final entails being a source of life for others.
Drinking of Jesus’ living water puts a well inside of us that will never
empty. It will keep us satisfied—with enough left over to share with others.
Let your well be a source of life for others.
Prayer: Father, may we be the source that creates a bottomless well in
others.
Tweetable: What's on your bucket list and why?
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Saturday, January 9, 2021
Attitudes and Actions - Martin Wiles
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5 NLT
The sound pierced the early morning silence of my classroom.
As a teacher, arriving at school early provides the only quiet time of
the day, so I take advantage of the silent moments until the students begin
arriving thirty minutes ahead of time.
But one day, a blaring announcement from our marketing manager disturbed
that silence: “Attention, students. I’ll be making a clean sweep this morning
and removing any extras I see. We have tours this morning, so make sure you
clean up around your lockers.”
Our manager takes her job seriously, so making a good first impression
is important. Following her announcement, I heard several elementary students
talking outside of my room. One immediately began cleaning her locker out—not
just around it as the announcement had instructed. Not only did she clean her
locker out, but she instructed all other students who arrived to do the same.
“Mrs. ____ said to clean our lockers out, or she will throw our stuff
away.”
I teach middle school students, and I wondered if their reaction would
be the same. I knew better. Their attitude would be more like, “Yeah, whatever.
Throw my stuff away. Less I have to clean up.” Or, “Let someone else pick up
that clutter.”
Attitude determines action. Paul instructed us to have the same attitude
as Christ. Though He was God, he did not let that prevent Him from coming to
earth and dying a criminal’s death on a cross for humanity.
Three attitudes are worth adopting—and will make a huge difference in
our resulting actions. One is putting others ahead of self. Jesus did. Had He
not, we would have died for our sins and spent an eternity in hell. During His
early ministry, He did the same. The needs of others occupied His time.
The second attitude involves serving. Jesus served others more than He
did Himself. Feeding, healing, teaching. All things He spent His days doing.
The third attitude entails sacrifice. Instead of letting us pay for our
sins, God let Jesus do it. He sacrificed in death, but also in life.
God wants us to love Him supremely and others as ourselves. When we do,
we won’t have a problem serving and sacrificing for others, the world will be a
better place, and we’ll live more fulfilling lives.
Think of at least one act of service you can perform for someone else.
Prayer: Father, let your attitude be like that of Christ’s.
Tweetable: What are your attitudes and actions?
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Friday, January 8, 2021
Flashback Friday - Hope from a Duck - Martin Wiles
A victim of unfaithfulness, she now pondered her next step. Life had turned sour. Her marriage had disintegrated. Depression and despair had set in. She wondered how or if she could keep going. One day, the darkness was greater than others. She placed a gun in her handbag, drove to a nearby park, sat on a picnic table, and prayed. Her request was simple. She wanted one good reason to stick around. If she didn’t hear one, she would end her life. God’s answer came in a much-unexpected way. Hearing a noise, she opened her eyes to see a mother duck with three small ducklings tagging along. She knew it was God’s answer. She had children as well. To take her life would scar them forever. God knew the innocence of a mother duck would grab her attention and change her mind. Read more...
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As the teacher read over both students’ papers, she noticed striking similarities. Too many to be coincidental. She read and re-read not w...
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Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. Proverbs 30:8 NLT Every time she mounted it, I cringed...
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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever i...
