Undeserved Mercy - Martin Wiles

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Ephesians 1:2 NLT

I was the recipient of grace . . . undeserved mercy.

“I made God a promise I’d help the next person I knew whom he had called into ministry.” He spoke the words and then handed me an envelope. I was following God’s call, which, in this case, meant leaving my job and moving somewhere I’d never been. And without any promise of work or income. Having a family to care for made the decision more difficult. When I got home, I tore into the envelope. A check for $1,000 fell out.

Paul’s life before Christ had no peace, only religious zeal. Christians were different, and he was out to destroy as many as he could. He may have appeared happy and satisfied, but he wasn’t. Christ met him while he was on one of his escapades and offered him grace. He accepted, and for the first time in his life, he experienced peace.

Christ offered me grace for the first time when I was nine. I jumped at the offer. He’s provided grace daily since then, but the first time was the most monumental. This offer involved the chance to have my sins forgiven and the penalty for them erased. Accepting the offer restored me to a right relationship with God.

When grace came, peace followed. Now I didn’t have to worry anymore about my present or future state. In the present, I had the assurance of his presence in my life to give me guidance in every circumstance. I also had the peace of knowing heaven was in my future.

Later in Paul’s life, God told him his grace would always be sufficient. And it was. It carried him through numerous unpleasant situations. God’s grace does the same for us. 

When we lean on God in life’s trying situations, we find his grace to be sufficient and calming.

Let God’s grace assure you of forgiveness and give you peace amid life’s trials and tests.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for extending the grace of Your forgiveness and then giving us peace that is beyond our comprehension. 

Tweetable: Have you experienced God's undeserved mercy? 

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Meatloaf

 

 Ingredients

1 1/4 pound Ground Chuck

1 Egg

1 Onion (Chopped)

1 Cup Milk

1 Cup Bread Crumbs

Salt/pepper

Directions

Mix ingredients together and place in a loaf pan.

Topping:

1 small can Hunt's Tomato Sauce

1 Tablespoon Prepared Mustard

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

Mix together and pour on top of meatloaf.

Bake at 375 degrees for one hour.

Tweetable: Why not add this sumptuous meat to your evening meal? 

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Time Changes - 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 front of the homemade booklet simply said: “We have one last gift.”

 

Christmas had come and gone. All our celebrations with family and friends were over, and my wife and I sat around on New Year’s Day, me enjoying my final few days off from work and both of us anticipating our New Year’s Day supper with my brother and sister-in-law.

 

“Chrissy texted. She and Devon are coming over,” my wife hollered as I readied myself in the next room for our trip to my brother’s house.

 

“Why now?” I asked. “We’re about to leave. They’ve had all day to visit us.”

 

Within ten minutes, my daughter and her boyfriend paraded into the house, and he presented me with a homemade folder. I already had an eerie feeling about this day, but now it was as if I knew. My wife had tried to set them up several years ago . . . to no avail. Neither was interested in the other or a relationship. Then, suddenly, three years later, they were dating—with no help from my wife in making their decision. Now, I was getting a booklet, and I had a sneaky feeling I knew what it said—especially since my daughter sat on the couch with one of her hands covered.

 

They had taken our two grandboys to the park—the same park Devon had taken Chrissy to on their first date. I had mentored Devon for several years, but I had never seen his romantic side. On this New Year’s Day, he took her back—this time to propose. And the surprise in the booklet is that they wanted my blessing. In ten months, I would have a son-in-law . . . one I would be proud to welcome into the family.

 

Israel’s history with God was checkered. A mixture of obedience and disobedience. More disobedience. But God had great plans for the nation—as He does for all who obey Him.

 

Although the verse in context refers to the nation of Israel, we can claim it as our own when we choose to follow Christ. God doesn’t create us, stick us on earth, and let us wander. He has a purpose for us . . . a plan. And He gives us gifts and talents and arranges our life circumstances so we can fulfill that plan in His time and way. He is just that sovereign. Although we are not puppets, God doesn’t respond to us. He is the potter; we’re the clay.

 

We can determine God's plan through prayer and the study of God’s Word. Then, with faith and the presence of His Spirit in us, we can carry out God’s purpose and enjoy the life He created us to live.

 

Time changes—and many changes occur throughout our lifetime—but each one can align with God’s plan if will seek Him. 

Discover God’s plan for yourself—even if it involves making changes.

 

Prayer: Father, guide us by Your Spirit through the time changes of life. 

Tweetable: How do you adapt to life's time changes? 

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Chosen - Martin Wiles

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:1 NLT

The ability to choose is powerful. One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

          To where it bent in the undergrowth;          

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

         I doubted if I should ever come back.         

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Whether Frost refers to a specific choice he later regretted or not, I’m not sure. But I know I’ve regretted a few. I’ve faced many forks in the road, made a choice, and then later wondered how life might have been different on the other road.  Perhaps only a few times in a person’s lifetime can they actually try the other road.

Paul’s fork came on the Damascus Road while he was on a mission to arrest, persecute, and kill Christians. A bright light from heaven parted his path, the risen Christ gave him an opportunity to take another road in life, and he accepted it. God chose him, but he had to choose Christ in return.

Life affords us many choices, but the most important choice we must make is what we’ll do with Christ: accept him like Paul or turn away. 

Once we choose him, he gives us many other opportunities to serve him, but at each juncture in the road, we must choose his will over ours. Having the ability to choose him is wonderful; being chosen to be his child is an even more incredible privilege.

Choose to follow and serve Christ. It’s a decision you’ll never regret.

Prayer: Father, thank You for choosing us to be Your children. 

Tweetable: Have you made the right choice? 

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Shunned - Martin Wiles

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Acts 9:26 NLT

Growing up, I was shunned for all the wrong reasons.

Prior to high school, I did my best to live with integrity. I knew God had a plan for me. One would think a good clean-cut kid would have been readily accepted. It didn’t happen. My physique was nothing to brag about. When teams were picked for dodgeball or basketball, the team captains only picked me because they had run out of choices. Neither did my lazy classmates who didn’t like to do their homework or study for their tests enjoy my refusing to let them copy my work. Sometimes I was bullied. At other times, they just shunned me.

Saul planned to destroy this new movement called the Way. After meeting the risen Christ, however, he wanted to share this change with Jesus’ disciples. His anticipation was met with shunning. They didn’t trust him. What if his attempts were merely a ploy to expose believers so he could kill them? 

It is quite common for unbelievers to shun believers. Though Christ mandates us to love unbelievers and offer them an invitation to trust Christ, they often shun us in return—or at least the message we share. Jesus said many would walk the broad road to destruction. He also said believers would be persecuted just as he was.

Shunning can also come from other believers. Perhaps, like these early Christians were with Paul, they’re familiar with our past. They wonder whether we’ve really changed. Can they trust us to teach a class, work with the youth, or date their daughter? Though forgiven by God, our past can hang over our heads like an angry thundercloud.

The good news is that God never shuns those who come to him for forgiveness. When we fail, he continues to give us second chances. Regardless of how others might treat us, we can know we’re always loved and accepted by God.

When others shun you, remember God never will.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for Your forgiveness and for never turning us away when we come to You. 

Tweetable: Have you been shunned? 

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Key Lime Cheesecake

 

Ingredients

1 ¼ CUPS FINELY CHOPPED COCONUT BAR COOKIES

¼ CUP BUTTER (MELTED)

3 TABLESPOONS SUGAR

2-8 OUNCE CREAM CHEESE(SOFTENED)

1 CAN EAGLE BRAND MILK

½ TEASPOON LIME ZEST

1/3 CUP LIME JUICE

Directions

MIX COOKIE CRUMBS, SUGAR AND BUTTER.

PRESS ONTO THE BOTTOM AND SIDES OF PIE PLATE.

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 10 MINUTES.

BEAT CREAM CHEESE AND MILK UNTIL SMOOTH.

ADD ZEST AND LIME JUICE AND BEAT WELL.

POUR INTO PIE CRUST AND REFRIGERATE FOR 8 HOURS.

Tweetable: Why not add this delight to your meal? 

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Ego Deflation - Martin Wiles

As he looked out across the city, he said, “Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.” Daniel 4:30 NLT

Just five days after accepting the position, he resigned in disgrace.

 

In December of 2001, George O’Leary took the position as head coach of the Fighting Irish Notre Dame football team. Five days later, he resigned. An investigation revealed that twenty years before he had included false claims on his resume, which included saying he had lettered in football when he was not even on the team and that he had a master’s degree which he had not earned. The lies had not been discovered at any of his previous coaching jobs, but the high profile accorded the position of a coach at Notre Dame led to his exposure.

 

In a statement, O’Leary said, “Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni, and fans. With that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach.”

 

Although a considerable amount of time passed between O’Leary’s deception and its discovery, it did come to light with devastating results. He had seemingly reached the height of his profession, only to wake up and find it all taken away. Pride can do that.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar ruled the mighty nation of Babylon—a nation he thought he had built by his own power and ingenuity. Although a pagan nation, God controlled who ruled it, and Nebuchadnezzar needed to realize it. So, God humbled his prideful spirit by temporarily taking the kingdom away from him.

 

God doesn’t want us to think less of ourselves than we should—after all, we are created in His image—but He also doesn’t want our view of ourselves to be higher than it should. We are His children, but He controls every breath we take. We can do all things through Christ, but we are nothing without Him. All our efforts made apart from His guidance—or in disobedience to His plan—are bound to fail.

 

God has wonderful plans for His children, and an attitude of humility will lead us to search out those plans and use our gifts and talents humbly to carry them out. When we recognize our position in Christ, God will open doors we could never imagine. We may never attain notoriety, as George O’Leary did as head coach of a famous football team, but we’ll be famous in God’s eyes for doing what He created us to do.

 

Don’t let pride ruin your work for God. Humbly accept the plans He has for you. After all, life is about Him, not you.

 

Prayer: Father, give us faith to seek and follow Your plans for our life. 

Tweetable: Is your ego larger than it should be? 

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Advice from the Wrong Source - Martin Wiles

They ask a piece of wood for advice! They think a stick can tell them the future! Hosea 4:12 NLT

Advice is prevalent, but advice from the wrong source is easy to come by.

I once worked for a demanding boss. She was manipulative, moody, deceptive, and sometimes downright mean. Soon after beginning this job, I wondered if I’d made the right decision. I didn’t ask for advice from anyone about what I should do. Had I, I might have heard, “Tell her to take the job and shove it.” Or, “You have a family to take care of. Sometimes we have to do what we don’t particularly enjoy.” In the final analysis, I took the advice God gave me through prayer and stayed put for five years.

Hosea prophesied to hardheaded people who were faithless, unkind, sexually immoral, criminal, violent, alcoholic, and buck-passers. The saddest thing was that when they needed advice, they asked their wooden idols. God, they disregarded. 

Good advice is scarce. I can go to a bookstore and find advice everywhere on any question I have. Or I can pick up my smartphone, computer, or iPad and ask Google. I could also go to the nearest bar where the bartender would be more than happy to offer his opinion or to the local barbershop where I could get the same.

Many of the places I could seek advice from would be no better than the piece of wood Hosea’s audience consulted. If it’s a book I consult, it should offer sound Christian doctrine or at the very least be based on biblical principles. If it’s a website, I should read the About section. And if it’s a person I consult, they should be a mature Christian with life experiences and knowledge.

But the best advice doesn’t come from wood sources but by praying and searching God’s Word. Others may lead us astray—inadvertently or on purpose, but God never will. What he says in his Word—or through other godly sources—can always be trusted.

Don’t get your advice from the wrong source. Go to God.

Prayer: Father, we thank You that the advice You give will always be just what we need. 

Tweetable: From what sources do you seek advice? 

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God’s Good Structures - Martin Wiles

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis 1:31 NLT

I grew up in a family where Dad beat structures regularly.

Theaters were places where curse words were said or sexual scenes were displayed. They must be avoided. Not until much later in life did he learn to appreciate the art structure. Politics was enmeshed by crooked individuals who were always looking out for special interest groups—many of whom disagreed with his beliefs. Perhaps he forgot government was established by God. Playing cards and dancing were forbidden. I suppose he overlooked the scripture where David danced before the Lord. Sunday was the Sabbath and sacred. Mom could cook, but no buying groceries, working in the yard, or washing clothes. I guess he didn’t see the place where Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man.

When God looked over the structure of his original creation, he pronounced it good. This would have to include everything that would eventually develop from the original structure: government, the arts, competitive events, theater, technology, electronic games, education.

Dad tended to throw out the baby with the bathwater rather than just letting the dirty water out so clean water could be put in. He wasn’t the only Christian who is guilty of polarization—the either-or scenario. If I coach a softball team that is suffering from one player’s bad attitude, I don’t dissolve the team. I work on its direction by working on the one player. If the government leaders of my particular country, state, or town are corrupt, I don’t advocate the dissolution of the government. I work to change the present one. If my child’s school is getting poor reviews, I shouldn’t bash education. I should work to better it. And if one police officer acts as he shouldn’t, I don’t propose dissolving all police departments.

Most structures that have developed out of God’s original structure are inherently good. Sin is the problem and the reason structures head in the wrong direction. 

Rather than trying to do away with or completely re-create what God has already created, we should work to enhance his structures by being salt and light in our world.

What can you do to influence the direction of the structures sin has damaged?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your good creation. Show us how we can work to purify what sin has tainted.

Tweetable: What structures are you bashing and why? 

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Hashbrown Potato Soup

 

Ingredients

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

1 STICK BUTTER

1 BAG FROZEN HASHBROWNS

3 CANS CHICKEN BROTH

         

1 CAN CREAM OF CELERY

               

1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN

1 ½ CUP MILK

1 POUND VELVEETA CHEESE

1 BAG REAL BACON BITS

Directions

SAUTE ONION WITH BUTTER.

THEN ADD CHICKEN BROTH, HASHBROWNS, SOUPS, AND MILK.

ADD SALT/PEPPER.

BRING TO A BOIL AND ADD CHEESE.

STIR UNTIL MELTED. TOP WITH BACON BEFORE SERVING.

Tweetable: Why not try this warm soup on a cold winter's day? 

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Dropping the Wrong Word Bomb - Martin Wiles

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 NIV

I have no proof, but a lifetime of experience has shown me the “f” bomb has become more popular.

As a young boy growing up—and even as a teenager—the f-bomb was considered one of the filthiest words anyone could say. Men didn’t use it in front of women, and society looked sideways at women who used it. Using it in public was a big no-no. Anyone who did received a dirty look from friends and strangers alike—and perhaps a tongue-lashing. But now . . .

Two days after Christmas 2019, my wife and I walked across the Skybridge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As we passed a family who had stopped to take pictures, the father dropped the bad bomb because he thought we should have stayed behind them and waited until they finished.

One day later, my wife and I walked through our local Walmart and encountered two young men walking down an aisle. They conversed with each other—loudly enough for those they passed to hear—and sure enough, one dropped the bomb.

What was once an uncommon word—at least to hear aloud—has now become acceptable. And my jaw dropped when I heard about a local pastor who dropped it one night as he rode as a chaplain with a police officer.

Paul says we shouldn’t let any unwholesome talk come from our mouths, but only what builds others up. Unwholesome includes the f-bomb but also incorporates many other words and attitudes such as bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger—as well as gossip, slander, and off-color jokes.

Our speech reflects what’s on our inside. Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). When our speech comes out with dirty words, it shows our insides need attention.

Any words or attitudes that tear down rather than build up need to go. Dropping the f-bomb has become popular in part because others are doing it. Now it has caught on, become acceptable, and is spreading like a wildfire, which demonstrates how our words influence others.

Instead of dropping the bad word bombs—or any other unwholesome attitudes—let’s drop only those words and attitudes that build up and encourage others. When we do, the world will be a more pleasant place.

Prayer: Father, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You. 

Tweetable: Are you dropping the wrong word bombs?

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