Throwback Tuesday - God Isn’t Mad - Martin Wiles

A list of do’s and don’ts. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal. Don’t lust after what others have or people of the opposite sex. Don’t swear. Or drink. Or smoke.

I grew up with the don’ts hung neatly on my bedroom wall. Don’t sass Mom or Dad. Don’t curse. Don’t lie. I can’t remember all the don’ts, but each one had consequences. A spanking or stint in my room. Something given or something taken away but all with the intent I not repeat the don’t.  Read more...

Tweetable: Do you think God is mad at you? 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.

Enjoying Togetherness - Martin Wiles

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1

I rediscovered togetherness while hiking in the mountains.

My daughter and I were on a 7.2-mile hike in the mountains outside Clayton, Georgia. As we entered the woods, a sea of ferns covering the mountainside greeted us. I thought, This is going to be an easy and enjoyable hike. But the level path suddenly took a sharp drop. Rocks and roots littered the trail, and rain had made it slippery.

When we got to the bottom, a raging mountain stream—complete with several small waterfalls—welcomed us. We would need the rest. The next mile was a steady uphill climb. The series of up and downhills continued. By the time we were three-fourths of the way through, I was spent. My legs were wobbly, and I wondered whether I was going to make it out. I knew the last mile was uphill. I stopped every twenty yards for a breather and to drink some water.

Fortunately, my daughter kept encouraging me. She patiently waited when I had to stop, and she retrieved my water when I needed it. With her gentle encouragement, we finally walked out of the woods and took a picture of us standing by the entrance sign.

I agree with the psalmist. Life is better when people get along. To be sure, disagreements will occur—they’re inevitable. But when they do, we can disagree without having a sour attitude.

Friendships are important, but they don’t just happen. We have to intentionally establish them and then nurture them after we do. Good friends will stick with us through the good and bad times. They will encourage us to take the next step when we feel as if we can’t.

Enjoying our family is also essential. While we can choose our friends, we cannot choose our family. They come with the territory. Family is like blood: thicker than water. Enjoying our family makes life more pleasant. Families should be there for each other.

But family and friendship can’t take the place of time with God. Through Bible study, prayer, and time spent with other believers, we experience the benefits of togetherness with God. And God is there for us when everyone else walks away. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Don’t neglect the benefits of togetherness. Life is too short to live it alone.

Tweetable: Are you enjoying the benefits of togetherness?

Prayer: Father, prompt us to make time for others—and especially You. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.

Pretending into Reality - Martin Wiles

Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Romans 5:13 NLT

What I had put on prepared me for what I’d become.

For a number of years before she died, my paternal great-grandmother stayed in the home with her daughter and son-in-law, my paternal grandparents. She had her own room, but nothing more. There was no studio apartment or mother-in-law room, but she was content.

She often sat on her bed, propped up with pillows behind her back, crocheting or reading her Bible. And I often sat in the room with her. My little soldier bed was in her room. When I spent the night, I slept there. A wooden chair was at the foot of her bed. Here I sat to watch her, talk with her, and do my pretending.

In front of the chair, I placed a small table. On the table, I placed a Bible. And from that position, I pretended to preach. I doubt at that age I could read well. I surely didn’t understand everything the Bible taught. Yet, I had heard my father preach every Sunday, and, like most boys, I wanted to be like my father.

I’m sure my antics amused my parents and grandparents. In reality, I don’t remember doing this. The act is stuck in my memory because they told me I did. But eventually, I pretended into reality.

Paul told his readers to put on Christ and to make no provision for sinful behavior. In other words, pretend into reality.

When we put on Christ through faith, He forgives, accepts us into His family, and makes us saints. From God’s perspective, we’re perfect because we’ve put on Christ. And Christ was sinless . . . perfect. God sees us in Him and sees our perfection, even though it hasn’t happened in reality.

As the betrayed pretends to still love the betrayer until those original feelings return, so I must pretend to be perfect until my thoughts, actions, and words become closer to reality—which won’t happen until I’m perfected in heaven.

I can be a little Christ when I begin to realize I can’t live the Christian life. Only Christ in me can. And the sooner I realize this, the sooner I will pretend into reality the person He wants me to be.

Don’t live like the person you were before Christ. Pretend into reality the person Christ has made you.

Tweetable: What do you want to become reality?

Prayer: Father, help us realize who we are in Christ so we can live out in practice the people we are in position. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.

Flashback Friday - God Among Us - Martin Wiles

God Among Us

“Elvis has left the building.” A statement that devastated Elvis fans.

Elvis Aaron Presley was born January 8, 1935, and eventually became a cultural icon with worldwide fans. Often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll,” he was one of the 20th century’s most popular musicians.

At the age of 13, Presley moved from Tupelo, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee, where he began his music career in 1954. He worked for Sam Phillips-owner of Sun Records, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. His energized performance style made him popular and controversial. Read more...

Tweetable: How do you know God is with you?

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.

See a Need, Meet a Need - Martin Wiles

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17 NLT

She was a shut-in who needed a ramp.

Patricia required round-the-clock care prior to and after her husband’s death. Her son and daughter-in-law decided she needed a ramp. This would help when she had to be transported to doctors’ appointments or when they just wanted to get her out for a while.

When I heard of their predicament, the solution seemed simple. We had a licensed contractor in our church, the men’s ministry had funds they weren’t using, and we had men who had the skills to build a ramp. I contacted the contractor who was more than happy to use his skills and time.

We designated a day and time and the contractor picked up the materials. Ten men showed up to help. Within the space of two and one-half hours, the ramp was built—and at a negligible cost. I felt good when we were finished. So did everyone else. We had shown God’s love by helping someone with a need we could meet.

John doesn’t mince words. He says if we have the means to meet a need we see but don’t that God’s love doesn’t abide in us—regardless of what we might claim.

I can’t meet every need I see. They are numerous and surround me every day. Not only do I see them but I also hear about them. Nor do I have the funds, the skills, or the time to meet every need. Jesus didn’t meet every need He encountered. Some people He didn’t heal. Some areas He avoided.

Jesus operated according to the Father’s plan—and I should too. Through prayer, I can determine which needs God wants me to meet. When I’m prayed up, I’ll even know what to do about those spur-of-the-moment opportunities that arise.

Knowing my skill level also helps. While I could help build a ramp, spearheading the project would have been out of the question. Instead of hours, it would have taken days. If we are perceptive, God will match the opportunities with our skills and talents.

But the greatest challenge to meeting needs is intentionality. If we don’t have a plan to love others by meeting their needs, we won’t. Make a plan so you can meet a need when you see a need.

Tweetable: How do you respond to needs?

Prayer: Father, give us opportunities to show Your love to others in tangible ways. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.