Seeing with Faith Eyes - Martin Wiles

Then at your command, O Lord, at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare. Psalm 18:15 NLT

Jan could see herself healed, but she had no proof she was.

For more than a year, Jan had suffered from a hacking cough and congestion. Her initial doctor visits resulted in a diagnosis of bronchitis for which she was prescribed antibiotics. Somewhere along the way, her bronchitis cleared up, but the coughing and shortness of breath didn’t. So her family doctor referred her to a pulmonologist who diagnosed her with asthma.

After a year of coughing, Jan is tired—physically and emotionally. She rarely attends church because she is afraid her coughing will disrupt the service. Her energy level makes going to the grocery store or getting together with friends almost impossible. She is confined and discouraged.

I called to check on Jan recently. Carrying on a conversation with her is almost impossible because of her coughing. She apologized; I told her I understood. She told me she wanted to come to church; I assured her the church understood. Then she said, “But I still believe God can heal me.” She still saw life with faith eyes.

David did as well. God hadn’t defeated his enemies yet, but he believed He would. He could see what the earth and sea would look like after the battle was over—the battle that hadn’t taken place yet.

Seeing with faith eyes lets me see God’s forgiveness. I have no tangible proof my sins are forgiven and cast into God’s sea of forgetfulness, but I believe they are.

Seeing with faith eyes gives me a glimpse of eternity—even though I’ve never been given a sneak preview. All I have is the picture God’s Word paints, but I stake my life on the belief it exists.

Seeing with faith eyes helps me believe God has a plan for my life. I don’t always understand it or see how He is working it out—but I believe He is. He tells me I’m His masterpiece, and that I have potential to be used in His Kingdom agenda.

Seeing with faith eyes also helps me remember the ill effects of sinful behavior, thoughts, and attitudes. Although I can’t handle sin, I can be handled by it. God says sin violates His standards, and I choose to accept His word.

There’s more to life than what you can physically see. Let God help you live with faith eyes.

Prayer: Father, remind us that we walk by faith—not by sight--and that our faith will be rewarded. 

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Turning Loose the Leaves - Martin Wiles

As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. Genesis 8:22 NLT

The leaves fell, and I knew there were some things I needed to let fall as well.

During one autumn week, the wind blew and the leaves descended in droves from the trees. I watched maple trees filled with pulsating red leaves allow them to tumble to the ground.

As my feet trudged through the mounded leaves, I thought of the above verse. What God had promised was happening. But just as surely as the trees turned loose their leaves, I too had to free my life of things that have a habit of hanging on if I were going to enjoy God’s best.

Bitterness was one leaf I had to let fall. Reasons for bitterness—against others, God, or both—can be numerous. Perhaps the trials of life have gotten me down, and I begin to wonder whether or not there really is a God who cares. Maybe relationships or jobs have ended unexpectedly. When bitterness hangs on, life is miserable.

Unfair decisions are another leaf. These are made by others but affect me. The decision to end a job, a relationship, a contract, or even a life. I can’t control unfair decisions made by others. The feeling of being powerless leads to despair and can easily usher in hopelessness—and its bedfellow depression.

Past hurts can hang like unfallen autumn leaves. Life is filled with them. I can hurt others intentionally and unintentionally, and others can hurt me. Hurts…well, hurt. They put a damper on life. Wishing they could be undone only leads to further misery.

Unforgiveness is like the stubborn leaf that refuses to fall. Hurts must be forgiven, or bitterness and a life of misery will follow.

Physical pain is also an unwelcome leaf. Especially when doctors can’t find the cause, when medicine isn’t doing the trick, or when my prayers for God’s healing don’t bring relief.

While I may have no control over physical pain or other’s unfair decisions that hurt me, I can avoid the leaves of bitterness and unforgiveness. What’s in the past is in the past and should stay there. Reliving it or using it as an excuse for present unwise behavior keeps the leaf from falling where it can do what God designed it to do.

Let the unhealthy leaves fall from your life tree, and enjoy the life God gives you to live.

Prayer: Father, give us the power to let go of those things that keep us from the abundant life You offer.

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Throwback Tuesday - Finishing Well - Martin Wiles

Finishing Well

I know the day of mine is getting closer. All the tell-tale signs are appearing: hearing loss, poor eyesight, creaking joints, less energy, hair growing in odd places, hair falling from normal places, taste buds changing.

Most people avoid discussing death. But in my experience with the aged, I find that the older they get the less they avoid the subject. Bodies are tired and not functioning as they should. There is a yearning to be at home with their Lord. My grandfather eagerly raised his hands to heaven prior to his death and said, “I’m going home.” Read more...

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Stamps for Trade - Martin Wiles

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 NLT

Who would have thought a book of stamps would buy what I wanted?

As an added marketing technique to draw customers, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores offered Greenback stamps. A small machine was located just above the cash register. The cashier punched in the amount the customer had purchased, and the machine distributed stamps. Consumers then licked the stamps and placed them in books.

Mom didn’t particularly like to lick stamps, so she gave me that job with the reward of getting the stamps. The Greenback company had a store in my hometown and distributed a catalog showing items available for purchase. For a young boy who loved to spend money he didn’t have or should have saved, this arrangement suited me fine.

As the blank books began filling, I’d peruse the catalog to see what I wanted. I wasn’t interested in household items—only those things that suited a young boy’s fancy. The joy I felt as I made my way to the Greenback store was only dampened if the store was out of my planned purchase.

At the time, I hadn’t learned what Jesus taught. I still thought things could make me happy. More than 40 years later, I’m still working on learning the lesson since it goes against the grain of my human nature.

Of course, Jesus didn’t teach things were wrong; He just warned against the attachment and disappointment effect they often have. When considering a purchase or investment, I’ve learned to consider several things.

Can I use the item in God’s Kingdom work? If I can’t—even in some small way, maybe it’s not the best thing for me to invest my money in.

Will the purchase of this item bring me closer to God? If it’s a Bible, the answer is easy; if it’s a flat-screened television or an all-terrain vehicle, I might have to be ingenious.

Could the item I’m buying steal my focus from God? The answer to this question causes me to look at the long-term possibilities of the item.

Is buying the item sinful? While some things are morally neutral but carry the potential to become sinful, some things are just sinful—plain and simple.

Jesus was right. Life shouldn’t be measured by what or how much I have. Life is about Him and my relationship with Him.

Measure the value of what you have by Whom you’re related to.

Prayer: Father, may we learn that in You we have all we’ll ever need. 

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When God Thunders - Martin Wiles

The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. Psalm 18:13 NLT

We counted—1 1,000, 2 1,000, 3 1000—and then ran for cover.

One church my father pastored was populated by farming families. One, in particular, grew hundreds of acres of watermelons. When the watermelon farmer offered me a part-time job in the afternoons, I accepted.

The fields were shrouded with weeds as tall as I was. Humidity sweltered, and I sweated and choked for air as I heaved the watermelons onto the back of the farm truck. The climate of mid-summer made conditions perfect for afternoon thunderstorms. When we saw the first flash of lightning, we counted. Three seconds equaled a mile. If we didn’t get to 3 1,000s before we heard the clap of thunder, we ran for whatever cover we could find.

I’ve repeated the same procedure while hiking in the mountains. Thunder is the sound of lightning, and though the chances of being struck by lightning are slim, the chances increase when I’m in an unprotected environment.

When the psalmist described God’s approach to deal with his enemies, he chose the sound of thunder. Thunder is frightening because of its association with lightning. And God’s power can be just as frightening or comforting—depending on whether I’m His friend or enemy.

Thunder can be a low rumble or an ear-piercing clap. The first doesn’t normally frighten me, but the second sends me scurrying for cover. Hearing God can be similar. Sometimes His voice heard in my spirit is loud and clear while at other times it’s barely perceptible.

Unconfessed sin in my life will keep me from hearing God, but sin isn’t the only thing that makes His voice sound like a rumble instead of a loud clap. Busyness, misplaced priorities, and selfishness can all play a part.

Several conclusions, however, bring comfort. God is continuously speaking to our spirits. Things in our life may soften His whisper, but He speaks nevertheless. God wants us to hear Him. When we don’t, we tend to do things our way, which leads to wandering in wrong directions. Preparing daily to hear Him is crucial. Beginning the morning with a prayer asking Him to speak clearly and to help you hear clearly helps. Praying on the armor He provides is also a good follow-up (Ephesians 6:11-18).

Do whatever is necessary to hear God when He thunders.

Prayer: Father, enable us to hear You clearly when You speak from the heavens. 

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Flashback Friday - Good News about Temptation - Martin Wiles

Good News About Temptation

Though they house several common denominators, the shapes and sizes vary. 

For Eve, temptation was a mere piece of fruit…but a piece that represented disobedience to God. For Adam, it was listening to his wife’s pleadings instead of God’s voice. King David was enticed when he looked in the right direction at the wrong time. The Israelites were tempted when Moses remained too long on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments.

Rob turned away from God when he delved into a doctrine that divides Christians. Since he couldn’t understand it, he chose to throw up his hands and walk away. Heather’s* temptation was an attraction to a man she worked with instead of faithfulness to her husband. For Sam*, it was money and possessions. He just couldn’t seem to fit God into his “gotta have more” lifestyle. Read more...

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Thanking God Properly - Martin Wiles

He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. Acts 3:8 NLT

November—and Thanksgiving particularly—is the month Americans choose to show their thankfulness. 

But honestly, there have been days, months, and years when expressing thankfulness was difficult.

The year my son left to live with his mother was a difficult year to be thankful. Nor did I feel thankful when I sent my daughter off to college. Empty nests are lonely. The year my father died was a difficult year to be grateful. As well as the year I spent a week in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and spent more time in the doctor’s office than out of it.

But like many other things in life, I don’t tie thankfulness to my feelings. I thank God because it’s the proper thing to do. The lame beggar Peter healed recognized the same thing. 

When I examine situations closely enough, I find reasons to thank God even when it appears there are none. Praise is an appropriate method of thanking God. The lame beggar did after Peter healed him. If Christ does nothing more for me than what he has at Calvary, I have sufficient reason to praise him forever.

Giving is another way I demonstrate thankfulness. I’ve wandered through periods when money was tight, bills fell behind, and some services were even disconnected. Yet I still gave. God’s kingdom work is worth it, and he has promised to meet my needs when I do.

I also thank God with my time. I give of my time by worshipping with other believers, by using the spiritual gifts God has showered on me, by indulging in spiritual disciplines, and by loving my neighbor through acts of service.

How are you illustrating your thankfulness to God?

Prayer: Merciful God, guide us to demonstrate our thankfulness to You for all You’ve done for us and to do so every day. 

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