God Will Supply - Martin Wiles

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

The news was bad … again. It typically was. 

I rarely enjoy filling out my annual state and federal tax forms. While I have received meager refunds for a few years, I usually owe at least one entity—often both. 

One particular year had been difficult financially. A supply-preaching opportunity had helped, but adding that income to my usual income caused bad tax news. My wife used an online service to calculate the results. 

“Well,” she mumbled, “we owe $1300 to the federal but will get a refund from the state.” 

My countenance fell. I knew we wouldn’t see the state refund. We owed the local hospital, and they’d snatch our refund. But where would we get the money to pay our federal tax obligation? 

One month after this discouraging news, we received encouraging news. The church where I had filled in now extended me the call to be their full-time pastor. Just in the nick of time to give us enough to pay our tax bill. Once again, God reminded us he would supply.

Paul was quick to acknowledge that God took care of him. When I read about his life’s challenges, I wonder how he could say that. God supplied his needs—but seldom in the manner he expected. 

I’ve noticed God’s way of doing things isn’t usually how I might do them. That includes how he supplied our needs. We planned to contact the IRS and set up a payment plan. God had another plan—one that paid the taxes in full. 

God’s manner of meeting our needs doesn’t always occur in the time frame we might imagine. Sometimes his supply comes over an extended period. At other times, as in our situation, he can meet the need in a split second. 

God can provide for our needs without the help of others but generally chooses to use others. In our case, He used a church. There have also been times when he used people who were not aware at the moment that he was using them. 

God is trustworthy. While his supply hasn’t always been what I might have wanted, it has always been just enough and what I needed. And along with the supply came the ability to endure—however long it took until he met the need fully. 

Trust God to supply your needs.

Father, I thank you that I can always trust you to meet whatever needs I have.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Missing God’s Will - Martin Wiles

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to bear arms when they left Egypt had died. Joshua 5:6 NLT

Though my cousin and I missed more than we hit, the thrill of the throw kept us trying.

A large magnolia tree stood near the porch of my maternal grandparents’ old farmhouse. Beneath it were mounds of dead leaves and my grandfather’s old pickup truck—and the weapons my cousin and I used to aim at signposts: dead blooms. 

Those were the days when young boys could legally ride in the back of a pickup truck, stand behind the cab, or sit on the tailgate and let their feet scrape the road. Oblivious to our devilment, our grandfather puttered along at 25 mph as we aimed our weapons at every sign we passed. Most of them we missed.

The Israelites weren’t much better at hitting God’s will than my cousin and I were at smacking those signs. God gave them the Promised Land, but fear caused them to miss His plan—a decision that cost them forty years of wilderness wandering. 

Speed can cause us to miss God’s will. Although my grandfather was a slow driver, my cousin and I still had difficulty judging when to lob the magnolia bloom so it would strike the sign. I equate speed with busyness—the breakneck speed with which we often live life. Jesus took time to rest and pray to be sure he didn’t miss the Father’s plan. 

Selfishness is another culprit that can lead to missing God’s will. At the age of my cousin and me, life was all about us. We weren’t concerned about the danger of standing in the back of the pickup truck. We were invincible. Throwing while moving could have caused us to tumble onto the road, but we didn’t think about such things.

Of course, we also have disobedience to contend with. God told the Israelites he would help them take the land. They would have none of it. Once our grandparents discovered what we were doing, they no longer forbade us from throwing magnolia blooms at signs. But we did it anyway. 

Bad influences can also cause us to miss God’s will. Ten spies—rather than two--persuaded the Israelites to turn back from the Promised Land’s border. Millions listened to the majority, who, in this case, were wrong. My cousin concocted the idea of throwing the blooms. I listened and joined in the disobedience. 

Think of those things that typically cause you to miss God’s will.

Father, help me resolve to obey your will so I won’t miss what you want to do in my life. 

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Cheeseburger Pie

 

Ingredients

1 POUND GROUND BEEF (COOKED, DRAINED)

½ TEASPOON SALT

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEESE

1 CUP MILK

½ CUP BISQUICK

2 EGGS

Directions

MIX ALL TOGETHER.

BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR 25 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.

God’s Stretch - Martin Wiles

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Once upon a time, I ran—but soon realized I must stretch before I did.

Walking has always been my favorite exercise. Not too strenuous, and easy on the knees. This prepared me for hiking in the mountains, which various family members and I did for several years. This was a little more strenuous on the knees. 

Then one day, I got the urge to begin running. Since my daughter was a track and cross-country runner, I knew I needed to stretch before I took off down the road. I watched the stretches she did and followed suit. Running exercises more muscles, so the chances of sustaining an injury are greater with running than with walking. Yet, even with the stretches, I continually battled shin splints. I’d buy medical implements designed to help relieve the pain and walk until they healed, but as soon as I started running again, they reappeared. I finally gave up on running and stuck to walking.

Though it seems inconceivable, God stretched, too. I discovered that a bit of stretching wouldn’t do the trick. The chances of injury increased if I slacked off on my stretching time—something I hated to do. (I preferred just taking off without any preparation.)

According to Paul, God’s stretch was lengthy and had far-reaching consequences. He stretched all the way to earth and us. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God sacrificed an animal and then used the skin to cover their nakedness. But these sacrifices were only temporary and insufficient.

Thousands of years later, God stretched a little further by sending his Son to die a cruel death on a rugged cross. We had failed to stretch to God, so he stretched to us. This stretch encompassed everyone who had ever lived or would ever live. Sin had injured the entire human race.

My stretching was voluntary, and so was God’s. He was under no obligation to treat our injuries. Love, however, demanded he intervene, but we must respond to God’s stretch. As his hand reaches out to us, we must reach out to him in faith and take hold, but not by good works, popularity, or payment. Our grasp must be by faith--plain and simple.

Respond today to God's stretch of faith.

Father, I thank you for stretching down in love, grace, and mercy to care for my sinful needs. 

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.

Living with Hope - Martin Wiles

You lived in this world without God and without hope. Ephesians 2:12 NLT

The Evans family lived with hope despite living in what appeared to be hopeless circumstances.

Good Times was a 1970s sitcom about a dad, mom, and three children who lived on Chicago’s bad side. Every trip carried the risk of being mugged or raped. They lived in a rickety apartment building owned by a man who cared little for his tenants. Mom stayed home, cared for the children, cleaned the house, and cooked while Dad worked—at least, most of the time. Job layoffs came regularly. But somehow, they always managed to scrape by—and with a smile on their faces. Their secret for happiness, despite their unwelcome circumstances, came through something the mom instilled in the family: hope. A hope built on a deep trust in God.

Paul reminded his readers that they once lived without hope. They had it presently only because they accepted the Jesus he preached.

Hopelessness is a terrible state of existence. Believing that nothing will ever improve or seeing a future that will never be any better than the present. Looking at the past and seeing that it wasn’t any better than the present. However, anyone can live with hope instead of succumbing to hopelessness.

As Florida Evans discovered, hope is not built on circumstances. Millions would have none on any given day if that were the case. Regardless of our financial state, living consistently without anything going wrong isn’t the norm. Hope built on circumstances quickly materializes into hopelessness.

We have hope because we trust the one who controls the circumstances and believe he can take what appears, or is, evil and form good from it. Believing he is the creator and controller of all things instills confidence.

Living with hope is an inner attitude that leads to outward change. Florida Evans was able to transfer her hope to her family, even her unbelieving husband. Hope is transferable. If we live with hope, we can give it to those God puts in our paths. Our attitude will influence theirs.

Florida Evans’ hope was built on her belief in God. Ours must be, too. Nothing else will give us true, consistent hope. All other foundations will flounder.

Choose to live with hope, not merely survive with hopelessness.

Father, I have hope that you love me, control my circumstances, and will guide me through whatever you allow into my life. 

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.

The Job of Encouragement - Anita van der Elst

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12 NLT

While staying for a couple of weeks with my daughter after the birth of her firstborn, I visited a nearby church. I was delighted that the church had a small café where one could enjoy a quick breakfast and specialty coffee before the worship service. 

Waiting for my latte and wanting to connect, I tried to engage in conversation with some folks sitting nearby. I was slightly surprised that they didn’t seem interested in doing so. This would have discouraged me in the past, but the Lord has brought maturity over time. I know He wants me to be encouraged, like Paul desired, and to encourage others. So, I looked for a connection somewhere else in the area.

The Lord did not disappoint. The next person I saw stood in the middle of the room in a circle designated “Next Steps.” A sign hung from the ceiling that read, “Start Here.” She smiled, and we conversed. Her job may have been to greet and help people, but her interest was genuine. She offered to sit with me in the sanctuary, and I readily accepted. 

Our shared camaraderie and love for our Savior greatly enhanced the worship experience. We exchanged phone numbers, and although I would go home to another state, we agreed to stay in touch. Our encounter encouraged me in my faith journey, and she said the same.

If I had let the first failed attempt to connect dictate the rest of my morning, what a loss I would have experienced. And the same for my new friend. How much better to go with the motive of seeking to encourage others in the faith.

Think of ways you can encourage others in their faith. 

Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, 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.

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Soup

 

Ingredients

4 BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST

     

1 CAN CREAM  OF CELERY

1 SMALL BLOCK VELVEETA CHEESE

  

2 CANS CHICKEN BROTH

1 BAG EGG NOODLES

1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN

1 CAN MILK

1 STICK BUTTER

SALT/PEPPER

1 CAN ROTEL

Directions

COOK CHICKEN BREASTS IN BROTH, BUTTER, AND SALT/PEPPER.

ONCE COOKED, REMOVE FROM BROTH.

ADD NOODLES TO BROTH AND LET COOK.

SHRED CHICKEN, THEN ADD BACK TO NOODLES AND BROTH.

ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND LET COOK ON LOW FOR 30 TO 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.