Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Patience Please

Friday afternoon had finally arrived. I was eagerly anticipating the weekend but had a number of things to accomplish if I was to enjoy it- most of which required internet access. When I clicked on my browser, that dreaded message appeared: “Internet Explorer cannot display this page.” I glanced at the router; I was disconnected.

Nothing tries my patience any more than an absence of internet access. Much of what I do with my employment, hobbies, and writing requires it. Interruptions in service are major inconveniences. Adding to my frustration was being told it would be Monday before a repair person could come. Read more...

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Accepting Rejection - Martin Wiles

He did not retaliate when was insulted. When he suffered, he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 1 Peter 2:23 NLT

Rejection is never fun, and many avenues are traveled to avoid it. 

Peer pressure is a part of growing up. As a middle school teacher, I’ve watched the lengths students will travel to be accepted—especially new students who want to fit in. Parents are persuaded to spend extra money so kids can have name brand clothes or the most popular tech games. 

New students sometimes completely change their personalities, trying to become the person they feel their peers want them to be. I watched one student overdose on an over-the-counter drug just to get attention. Some who have no interest in sports play anyway. Others will make poor grades just so they won’t be made fun of for being smart. 

The only perfect person who ever lived also faced rejection. But Jesus didn’t retaliate, change His personality, or try to become someone else to fit in. He accepted rejection as a part of God’s plan for Him.

Rejection is worth the cost when the cause is admirable. Jesus’ cause was worth everything He had to undergo. He was going to die for humanity’s sins. His death would usher in a new existence for those who would accept Him as God’s perfect sacrifice. 

As a believer and Jesus’ representative, I should expect rejection. And I’ve received it. During middle school, in fact, I was rejected and laughed at by some because of my moral values. I wouldn’t let anyone copy my homework—which I actually viewed as important. I figured if I suffered through the agony of doing it, the lazy students could as well. Nor would I cheat simply to make a good grade. 

With God’s wisdom, however, I can process my rejection. If I’m rejected because I follow Him, I can depend on God’s strength to help me accept the rejection—regardless of how much it hurts. 

When rejection comes, I can also be assured that God will never reject me. In the scheme of life, the reasons others reject me are often trivial. My ultimate acceptance must come from God—even if it means being rejected by everyone else. When I’m accepted by God, my purpose in life will become clear and my joy will be complete. 

Who are you seeking acceptance from—and at what cost?

Prayer: Father, remind us that following You is worth any price we might have to pay. 

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The Uncomfortableness of Change - Martin Wiles

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster; to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

The fish landed on the ground and flopped around. I waited to see what would happen.

From the time my grandmother taught me until I was a young adult, I loved to fish. If I went with her, I would find myself in a small boat. If I went with my brother or by myself, I stood on the bank. More than once I’ve had a fish fall to the bottom of the boat or on the bank because the hook was barely engaged or because the fish slipped from my hands as I was removing the hook. 

As soon as the fish hit the ground, it began flopping because it was out of its normal environment. Instinct told it if it didn’t return to water it would die. Sometimes the flopping was so intense that the fish actually flopped back into the water. Most of the time, it simply died. 

In a verse that had immediate application to Israel—but future meaning to any who chose to follow Him, God assured His people that He had good plans for them. Their future was bright. Unfortunately, they didn’t always share God’s vision. Like a fish out of water, they flopped around, desiring what wasn’t best for them.

Being out of water makes a fish uncomfortable. Change has taken place. Rather than succumb to what’s ahead—being eaten, the fish yearns to return to what it has always known. 

God’s plans often make me uncomfortable too. I call it change. Instead of giving in and following what I know is a good plan, I often flop around like a fish out of water until I fall back into my normal tradition or custom—where I feel comfortable again. 

My only choices are to move ahead with God’s plan—kicking and screaming…flopping around, or to forge ahead with excitement and belief that where God is leading is better than where I am—a journey I can only take by faith. 

When God’s plan puts me in an uncomfortable place—which it usually does, my job is to believe God’s plan is preferable to mine and will always lead me into a brighter future. And it will. His plan is for my good, not disaster. 

How are you responding to God’s plan for you?

Prayer: Father, give us vision to see the good plans You have for our future.  

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Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

Controlling Self-Control

I’d never encountered anything like it before and hoped I wouldn’t again.

While visiting a friend who lived on a farm, I suddenly ran into something that refused to let me go. Had it been a rogue hog, angry bull, or cantankerous rooster, I would have understood, but this was a mere strand of wire. I hadn’t offended this string in any way, but in short order I was mesmerized and almost cauterized. After a few agonizing moments, I was finally emancipated and hurled to the ground. After a good laugh, my friend warned me about electric fences. Read more...

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Trudging Through Muddy Waters - Martin Wiles

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! Isaiah 43:2 NLT

Before us was a wide river; behind us were miles of unmarked territory.
  
Panthertown Valley in North Carolina was the most confusing place I had ever hiked. Numerous trails meandered through hundreds of acres, but none were marked. Maps didn’t seem to match the actual outlay of the areas, and a number of side trails veered off from the main trails, making following the map extremely difficult. 

On one particular hike, my brother, son, and I chose a route we’d not taken before. After hiking several miles, we came to a bulging river. None of us could swim, and we weren’t sure we could return the way we had come. While the water wasn’t raging, what if it was deeper than it appeared. My brother decided to be the guinea pig and made it safely across. My son was short; I’d have to carry him. So with a child on my back and a hiking staff in my hand, we traversed the cold water and made it safely to the other side. 

God’s Old Testament people had been through deep and muddy waters more than once. In their history, wave after wave of foreign invaders attacked them and on several occasions carried them away as captives. But each time, God delivered them. 

Like the nation of Israel, I can recount an entire list of muddy water episodes: rebellious children, dying relatives, financial meltdowns, broken relationships, unemployment, low-paying jobs, abuse, cancer, and physical ailments. And if I haven’t faced the muddy waters myself, I’ve been close to someone who has. 

God never gave up on the nation of Israel. He always came to their rescue. He’s done the same for me. Just as I couldn’t see the bottom of the river we crossed, so I’ve not been able to see the bottom of the muddy-water episodes I’ve encountered. But it doesn’t matter. I knew the One who allowed me to cross through the waters, and He had a reason for doing so. The lessons I’ve learned have resulted in spiritual growth. 

And God has given me many opportunities to share my lessons with children, teens, and adults. I’ve also noticed that people traversing muddy-water episodes listen more carefully to someone who has been through the muddy waters themselves. 

When God takes you through muddy waters, enjoy the journey and be open to what He’s trying to teach you.

Prayer: Father, we trust You to guide us through life’s muddy waters, believing You will keep us safe and provide something better on the other side. 

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A Time To Be Silent - Martin Wiles

But the people were silent and did not answer because Hezekiah had told them not to speak. Isaiah 36:21 NLT

“You know what your problem is? You don’t know when to shut up and when to speak up.”

I heard the quote from an actor on television but couldn’t help but think of a woman I once knew. When her name appeared on my smart phone’s screen, I sometimes cringed—especially if I was in a hurry. She tended to ramble. Sometimes I never knew why she called. When my wife would ask, I often said, “I’m not really sure.” Telling her I was eating or had company meant nothing.  

Nor was my friend easy to have a conversation with. Sometimes I would call her with news or to ask a question. As soon as I would share what I called to tell her, she would launch into a story about someone else who may have had a similar issue as mine. She simply had never learned the art of being silent.

King Hezekiah was ruling in the southern kingdom of a divided Israeli nation. When an Assyrian representative invited the people to surrender to his forces, they remained quiet. The king had told them it was a time for silence. 

I admit there have been many times when I’ve not done much better than my friend. I’ve rambled on, interrupted, or jumped in in the middle of someone else’s story. 

I have learned many words usually lead to trouble. The rest of the introductory quote went something like this: “That makes you a fool.” When I talk more than I should, I’ll say something I shouldn’t. Perhaps I’ll share a tidbit of gossip. I may let an unkind remark slip. At the very least, talking when I should be listening means I’ll share something that doesn’t have to be shared. There is much in any situation that is better left unsaid. 

When I’m never silent, it also keeps me from listening. I continually remind myself that God gave me two ears for a reason. Unfortunately, my tongue seems to get in the way more than it should. The people on the wall listened to Hezekiah, but I don’t always do such a good job of listening to God and others. One thing’s for sure: talking and listening are mutually exclusive. 

There are times when silence is truly golden. Ask God for wisdom to know when your times of silence are. 

Prayer: Father, give us the wisdom to know when to speak up and when to remain silent. 

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Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Growing Into Christ

Excellence. Going beyond the ordinary. Outstanding or of valuable quality. Similar to extracurricular activities at school. Activities that necessitate more than normal effort.

They were good students, but they’d never be considered excellent…at least not in the traditional sense. They inhabited special classrooms and would probably never sit in a room with “normal” students. I assisted in teaching them for almost a year, and though their bodies appeared average for their age, a neurological developmental disorder called autism affected their social interaction and prevented their ability to communicate with us and their peers. Read more...

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On-Call God - Martin Wiles

I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me. Psalm 86:5 NLT

When you’re on call, anything can happen. 

Of all the different jobs I’ve had, being a pastor was the only one that required I be on call continuously. Always being on call is taxing, but it comes with the territory. 

I’ve known others who were on call, but it was only for a limited time. My on-call duties were different. Since I had to be available at all times, I’ve had to postpone vacations, come home early from vacations, get up in the middle of the night to go to the hospital or miss my children’s activities because of a meeting, wedding, or funeral. No complaints. I knew I’d have to take these reins when I signed up. While one person can’t do it all, someone must be on call when members need assistance. 

My mom also expects me to be on call when she beckons. A recent conversation went something like this: Me: Hello, Mom: Do you have company? Me: Yes. And then she proceeded to talk for 15 minutes. I have to admit—since this is typical for her, that I sometimes hit the ignore button when I see her name appear. Then I feel guilty. Perhaps something is wrong and she really needs me. 

God, on the other hand, doesn’t share the frustrations I sometimes fight against nor does He ever hit the ignore button. He enjoys every minute of being on call. 

God is continuously on call because He wants to be. His love and concern for the people He created spurs Him to answer our every beckon and call. He cares as no one else can. He exhibits love in its purest form. 

God is also on call continuously because He can be. I may be on call, but there are some things that could prevent me from responding immediately. I may have to get up and get dressed. Not so with God. God’s characteristics allow Him to be anywhere promptly.

People who are on call are because they have the knowledge and ability to respond to a particular need. God does as well. Regardless of what is wrong in my life, He can repair it—spiritually, physically, or emotionally. He knows my needs before I ever call and is more than willing to run to my side. 

Depend on God for all your needs. He’s always on call.

Prayer: Father, we thank You that no matter what our need is and no matter what time it is, You are always there for us. 

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Safe in the Shelter - Martin Wiles

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 NLT

The shelter was only a few hundred feet away, but at the moment it may as well have been a mile. 

I had grown accustomed to storms while hiking in the mountains. Which is why I started early in the morning so we could finish before late afternoon when storms were known to arrive. 

On this particular day, my brother, daughter, and I were on the Appalachian Trail in northern Georgia. Our plans were to arrive at our destination around noon, set up camp, and continue hiking for a few more miles. 

We reached our destination on time, but as soon as we unloaded, thunder began to roll across the mountains. We quickly set up our tents. No sooner had we driven the last stake than powerful pelting rain, sharp peels of lighting, and booming bangs of thunder slithered across the mountains. A trail shelter was only 300 hundred feet away, but we couldn’t reach it at the moment. 

During a brief lull in the lightning and thunder, we made a run for the shelter. Soaked to the skin, we huddled in the crude building for the next four hours, listening as one storm after another tumbled across the mountains. 

The psalmist had also discovered a shelter in the God he served—a shelter that provided rest and comfort. The mountain storms I’ve encountered were nothing compared to some of the life storms I’ve experienced. 

During these times, the shelter of God’s protection often seemed close but unreachable. But it only appeared that way. God always has a shelter for my troubled soul. The storm may continue to rage, but I’m protected from harm when I rest in God’s sheltering arms. 

Just as we had to make an effort to get to the shelter, I too must run to the shelter God provides. My effort demonstrates to God that I recognize my need and love for Him—that I’ve come to understand I can’t handle life on my own. 

Shelters of various styles dot the length of the Appalachian Trail. God is my ultimate shelter, but He manifests Himself in different ways. Sometimes He shelters me through the presence of others. 

God’s shelters are always close when the storms of life pummel. Run to Him often, and find the protection and peace He offers. 

Prayer: Father, may we remember that You are our ultimate shelter in the storms of life. 

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Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

A Penny Saved

“A penny saved is a penny earned.” Or “Save some for a rainy day.” Sayings I was taught growing up. And sure enough, the rain fell--sometimes by the bucketfuls. And as warned I was unprepared. My philosophy was more in line with another quip: “That money is burning a hole in your pocket.”

Holey pockets were my problem as a child. No sooner had I earned or been given money than I began searching for something to spend it on. My tendency to waste money I should save combined with low salaried employment has made saving difficult for me. Read more...

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Author Interview with Jill Holler - Martin Wiles

We welcome author Jill Holler to our site today. 

Tell us, Jill, when did you decide to become a writer, and what made you actually sit down and write something?


Unlike many authors, I never had dreams of becoming an author as a child or young adult. It was something God revealed to me slowly as I grew in His Word over the past decade. I am an English teacher, and I have always enjoyed reading and have done well at writing essays, but to become an author was never a consideration. 

However, as I started growing in my faith, I began journaling about Scripture and the things on my heart and mind. I started to realize how clearly God spoke to the circumstances of my life through His Word. Writing became a personal, active conversation with God, and it was something I began to treasure dearly. As an avid reader of devotional books (especially Streams in the Desert), I realized I wanted to offer my meditations on God’s Word to other people too. This is where my devotional book, Life in His Hands: A Call to Godly Surrender and Purposeful Living, began.

Every writer is eventually asked this question, but where do your ideas come from? Why do you write what you do?

My ideas come from the overflow of spending time in God’s Word. On my own, I have little to offer, but as I spend time in God’s Word, praying for Him to open my eyes so that I may understand the Scriptures, He faithfully reveals things to me. He astounds me with the wonder of who He is and shows me truths I have never fully considered. He shows me that His Word is not simply a guide for living, but the driving force of power in my life. God is the greatest treasure in my life, and I want to keep seeking Him to know Him even more.

I write to help spread a passion for God—to draw readers closer to the heart of God—so that they will be encouraged to live for Christ and love Him enough to give Him their all. It took me a long time to realize the importance of this myself, and I want to do anything I can do to help propel people toward a life of purpose in Jesus Christ. 

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you? How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I prefer to see where an idea takes me. When I began writing my devotional book, I didn’t know exactly where it would go, but as I wrote, I realized God was leading me to write about surrendering to a life of purpose only He could provide. What I wrote was not planned out—but instead was prompted by the circumstances of my life and the direction God was leading me through Scripture. The words in Life in His Hands were lessons for my own soul, ones I needed to instill deeply into the foundation of my faith. I have been through some deep, dark valleys, but God’s light has shone into my life, and I want to share this hope with readers.

After writing my first devotional book, I feel I have come to terms with the fact that my plans for books, blogs, or whatever I am writing, always take back seat to whatever God is up to next. I can have a plan for the direction I am going in my writing, but I always want to be open to the likely possibility that God may lead me somewhere different. I have come to expect the unexpected with God…and that is a good thing because His plans are always better than what I can create on my own.

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

Sometimes I struggle with the ability to be patient. I may want to sit down and write all day long, but God may be asking me to wait. I think the creative process of writing requires some time for just reflecting and waiting on the Lord. If I try to rush it, I don’t write well, and I can easily get frustrated because things aren’t going my way. So I’ve been working on simply trusting God in His timing and goodness.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

1) Keeping up with all the latest marketing and social networking I need to do, 2) wishing I could devote my whole life to writing, yet realizing I need a little extra income, and 3) struggling with the concept of promoting myself as a writer (and as an introvert!).

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

When I think about writing, I get so excited because even though I don’t know where God will lead me, I know it will be good. I can’t wait to unearth a treasure from God’s Word or sit in awe as God reveals truths to me that speak right to my life circumstances. I know through writing I will grow deeper in my faith and my love for Christ—and there is no greater joy than that.

What are you reading at the moment, and who are a few of your favorite authors and why?

I am currently reading Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. He reveals so clearly what the crucified life really looks like—to put everything else aside for the cause of Christ and live unashamedly for Him. As a Christian, this is how I want to live, and this book has made this concept come to life for me.

L.B. Cowman’s Streams in the Desert is a book I read daily and has been an inspiration to me as a devotional writer, so she is definitely one of my favorite authors. Also, I love anything by Timothy Keller and Christine Caine. Christine Caine’s books Undaunted and Unashamed have been invaluable to my faith walk.

Tell us about your most recent book. 

It has been the joy of my life to write Life in His Hands. This devotional book has drawn me so close to God, and I pray that it will do the same for others. I pray that the words in this book will speak to readers in a real, authentic way and captivate them through the power of Scripture. This book, as the subtitle suggests, is “A Call to Godly Surrender and Purposeful Living,” which arose from my own struggles to do so. It is a tender cry to believers to give everything for the cause of Christ, even in the midst of the struggles and circumstances of life that try to steal our joy. I pray those reading it will be abundantly blessed by the knowledge that there is no greater hope in our lives than Jesus Christ, the One who saves us and loves us with an everlasting love. 

Jill, give us your social media links and websites so our readers can follow you. 


Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/JillHollerAuthor/

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/Jill_Holler

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/JillHoller

Website:   www.changedbyhisgrace.com

Amazon Author Page:   www.amazon.com/author/jillholler


And where can readers purchase your book?  

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499581

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life-in-his-hands-jill-holler/1124705660

LPC: http://shoplpc.com/product/life-in-his-hands/

Thanks so much, Jill, for joining us today. We are trusting God to do great things through your book. 

Jill Holler is a mother, wife, teacher, and writer who holds a master’s degree in English from Western Illinois University. She has taught writing classes at both Joliet Junior College in Illinois and Muscatine Community College in Iowa. Yet far beyond her education and career, the words in the Bible have opened her eyes to truths that have forever impacted her life. Once blind to the power that resides in God’s Word, Jill now seeks it with all her heart, knowing that within the pages of the Bible are the truth and life she has been longing for.