God Rewards the Faithful - Martin Wiles

To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. Matthew 13:12 NLT

His comment came during one of the most taxing times of a school year.

As I stood outside my doorway during class changes, a young man whom I had previously taught passed my way. I normally speak to him first, but this day, he spoke first.

“Dr. Wiles, you were hard on us, but it paid off in the end.”

His comment shocked me. We teachers rarely hear remarks like this while students are still in school. Perhaps during graduation speeches or after they enter high school or college, but not while still under our tutelage. 

I smiled a large smile, thinking this was one of his normal smart remarks he was known for, and said, “I’m glad.”

With an even larger smile, he remarked, “I’m serious.”

This interaction was one of those rare occurrences when a teacher receives confirmation they are doing a good job at what they do. I thanked him for his comment. The remainder of my hectic day took on a new shape. I had been rewarded, not monetarily, but in a way money couldn’t buy.

Wanting rewards for our actions is normal. Never receiving recognition leads to a miserable existence. Jesus’ disciples were rewarded with something many others weren’t: the ability to understand the parables he taught. When they didn’t, he explained them.

God’s greatest reward is the assurance of salvation and comes when we trust in what Jesus did on Calvary’s cross and follow him as our Savior. The work God assigns to us children can be challenging. Some of the work he has given me taxed my ability to cope, understand, and carry it out.

But God rewards our good works. He gives more opportunities in the present and promises crowns in the future. Regardless of how he rewards us, we must always remember to praise him for any accomplishments that result. We can do all things through Christ—but nothing worthy apart from him.

While good works don’t produce salvation, they should result when forgiveness of sins has occurred. They are the proof in the pudding. Using them to serve God in new and fresh ways—and to say “Thank You” for his salvation—is the only wise thing to do.

Think about what you are doing with the rewards God has given you.

Father, move me to serve you faithfully as I anticipate the rewards you will give for my obedience. 

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Chicken Pot Pie

 

Ingredients

1 CAN CHICKEN

2 CANS MIXED VEGETABLES (DRAINED)

1 CAN CHICKEN BROTH

          

1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

Directions

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND PLACE IN A GREASED CASSEROLE DISH.

MIX 1 CUP BISQUICK WITH 1 CUP MILK, SALT, PEPPER.

POUR OVER CHICKEN MIXTURE.

DOT WITH MARGARINE ON TOP.

BAKE UNCOVERED AT 350 DEGREES FOR 30 TO 45 MINUTES OR UNTIL BROWN.

Tweetable: Why not pop this in the oven for a quick meal? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Held by an Unseen Hand - Martin Wiles

For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NLT

From death, a song came.

Few people noticed when Tom was born in Villa Rica, Georgia, on July 1, 1899. He and his seven brothers and sisters were around the church most of his life. Thomas’ dad was a Baptist preacher, and his mother played the organ. Quite naturally, Tom’s mother started him on the piano at an early age.

As a teenager, however, Tom decided to pursue a career as a blues musician and dubbed himself “Georgia Tom.” This journey took him to Atlanta’s nightclubs and the jazz houses on the south side of Chicago. But his spiritual heritage eventually drew him back to Christian music.

When Tom reached twenty-one, he joined the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. Here, he directed the choir and wrote more than three hundred songs. But one song in particular made a mark on Christian history. 

Tom’s wife, Nettie, was about to bear their first child when a church in St. Louis called Tom to sing in a revival. Although hesitant, Tom’s wife urged him to go ahead. Tom got in his Model A and drove to St. Louis. During the first night of the meeting, a boy brought a telegram to Tom. The telegram said Tom’s wife had died while giving birth.

That same night, Gus Evans drove Tom back to Chicago. When he arrived, the baby boy seemed to be fine, but later that night, he, too, died. Tom buried his wife and his infant son in the same casket.

A few days later, Tom visited his good friend, Professor Frye. They walked around the campus of Annie Malone’s Poro College before finally going into one of the music rooms. Tom sat at the piano and began playing “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?” As he did, he said, “Blessed Lord, blessed Lord, blessed Lord.”

Professor Frye walked over and said, “Why don’t you make that precious Lord?”

He did, and began to sing, “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand.”

On January 25, 1993, Thomas died, but his tragedy and the resulting song have brought comfort to people across the world, having been translated into more than thirty languages.

God promised to hold the hand of his people, Israel, and Jesus promised his followers many years later that he would never leave or forsake them. The same holds for present-day Christ followers.

Although each of our trials is unique, we all face them. They are a part of life, allowed or sent by God to strengthen our faith, increase our endurance, build our character, and prepare us to help others facing similar experiences.

We may not understand why the trials come, and trying to can lead us down a road to anger and bitterness. On the other hand, accepting our circumstances and trusting God grows us spiritually and makes us more aware that God is indeed holding our hand as we trudge through the mire of what we would rather avoid.

God promises to work all things together for our good and, more importantly, his glory. As we face our trials, we can ask the Lord to hold our hand, as Dewey did, and when we cross to the other side of our difficulties, we can look back and see that he did.

Don’t try to face life alone. Let God hold your hand and lead you through.

Father, hold my hand as I face the trials of life. 

Tweetable: Do you trust God's unseen hand? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Be Happy - Martin Wiles

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT

My great-grandmother rarely ventured beyond the confines of her bedroom, but she was happy.

Mammy, my great-grandmother, lived with my paternal grandparents for as long as I can remember. Her bedroom was just off the living room of the old home, and in those two rooms, she spent most of her days. But she never appeared sad. Crocheting afghans was one of her passions. For weeks and months, she sat in a straight-back white chair, a basket of yarn beside her, an intense smile on her face, and worked her needles. Often, she watched Perry Mason on the television while she did so. If not him, a game show.

When Mammy wasn’t there, she lay or sat on her bed and read her Bible. I often sat with her and had long conversations.

Mammy was always happy. From today’s vantage point, she appeared to live a somewhat dull lifestyle, but obviously, she didn’t think so. She enjoyed the simple things. Wise King Solomon proposed eating, drinking, and enjoying life.

Happiness is a state of mind and not governed by circumstances or things—as Solomon discovered. Things may create happiness for a brief time, but eventually—like a child, we tire of them and want something new. And if we wait until circumstances are continually pleasant to get happy, we’ll only experience happiness infrequently.

A permanent state of happiness—like Mammy possessed—is only created through a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Knowing our sins are forgiven lets us live with a smile—and we should. We have something to be happy about. This continual state of heart happiness validates our witness to others. A contradiction occurs if we claim to know Christ yet always appear sad. Understanding that God loves us unconditionally and that we can never do anything to make him stop is essential for maintaining a smile.

Happiness can also be caught. I caught Mammy’s, and I hope my demeanor and the words I write will help others catch the “Be Happy” attitude, too.

Be happy. Don’t let circumstances govern your smiles.

Father, remind me I can live in a state of joy because of what you’ve done.

Tweetable: Do circumstances determine your happiness? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Fringe Benefits - Martin Wiles

To open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me. Acts 26:18 NLT

For a middle-school-aged boy, it was the job of a lifetime—regardless of the pay.

My paternal grandfather was an ice cream delivery man. Not the kind who drove through neighborhoods and sold ice cream novelties to eager children, but the type who drove a large truck and delivered bulk items to restaurants and businesses. I’m not sure exactly when I began helping him during the summer, but by the time I was middle school age, I was spending the entire summer with my grandparents and working on the truck with him every day.

For a young boy, the benefits of working on an ice cream truck during the hot summer months were exciting. Each day, when we loaded the truck for the next day’s delivery, I pounced up in the refrigerated truck and stacked the ice cream my grandfather handed me. But the most tantalizing benefits were that my grandfather paid me $20 per week, told me I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted free of charge, and bought my lunch every day.

As the apostle Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, he recounted how God had given him a new mission in life. He was to take the gospel to the Gentiles, who, if they accepted it, would receive many fringe benefits.

As his child, God has opened my eyes to the light. Before accepting Christ as my Savior, the scales of spiritual darkness shaded them. Sin blinded me and held me securely in its chains. I could only do what my sinful nature dictated. I thought I was free, but I was actually a slave. Satan, the god of this world, blinded me. God, however, removed the blinders.

Forgiveness is another fringe benefit. Christ paid for all our sins on Calvary’s cross. No longer will God charge us with them. God placed them on Christ’s account.

Becoming a member of God’s family is a further fringe benefit. We’ve been sanctified—set apart. God has given us the righteousness of Christ. His family is large and eternal. We can enjoy their fellowship now and forever.

Think of the fringe benefits you experience as God’s child.

Father, thank you for the benefits that come with being your child. 

Tweetable: Are you enjoying God's fringe benefits? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Chicken Casserole

  

 

Ingredients

5 chicken breasts – cooked (keep broth)

1 onion

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

16 ounces sour cream

1 bag Pepperidge Farm dressing

Salt/pepper and onion salt

2 cups shredded cheese

Directions
Shred chicken and place in a bowl with all other ingredients except cheese.

Mix together and place in a greased casserole dish.

Top with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes.

Tweetable: Why not add this casserole as your main dish? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Transformation - Martin Wiles

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

My wife and I excelled at transforming yards, but this one … well ….

Our time had come to move—again. But this time, it wasn’t by force but by choice. We were excited, sort of, until we saw the backyard of the small patio townhome. Landscapers maintained the front yard, and our new landlords had transformed the inside, but the backyard was a mess. A single vine had overtaken an entire side of the three-sided privacy fence, briars had overrun what was once a rock-laden yard, suckers had covered the four crepe myrtle trees, and grass had scampered off for good. But we agreed when the landlord offered to cut our security deposit by three hundred dollars if we landscaped the area.

My wife, the creative one in our marriage, could see in her mind’s eye how she wanted the yard to look. She didn’t want to sow grass in the small area. She wanted to mulch it. So, we raked away all the dead briars, cut the suckers from the trees, and removed the dead weeds. After throwing it in the wooded area behind the townhome, we set out for Lowes. Ten bags of mulch later, we were back and spreading. But when we finished, we were one bag short. Back to Lowes we went for another five bags, just in case.

Once we had finished the mulching, we returned to our old townhome and removed the one hundred river rocks with which we had landscaped that yard. We loaded them into the back of my old Explorer—our moving van—one by one and drove three doors down. I handed them to my wife one by one, who carefully outlined our backyard with them. Then, we removed the fifteen landscaping squares in our old yard and made a walking path across the mulch, extending from our patio to the back gate.

After completing the yard, we worked on the fence. We brought the old implements that had hung on our old fence and put them on our new fence. Since I had already planted our garden vegetables, I also had to transplant them.

Seven hours later—with sweat-soaked clothes, clay-laced hands, and brown-mulched skin—we stood and admired the transformation we had created. “I wish I had taken a before picture,” my wife said as we looked over our new backyard. I wished she had, too.

Once we placed our patio furniture, our new little garden area was complete. We imagined how pleasant the evenings would be—sitting on our patio, watching the birds and squirrels, and seeing our garden grow.

I think Paul imagined God doing somewhat the same with people. From heaven—or everywhere since he’s omnipresent—God watches us and works in our lives, as my wife and I did with our new backyard. Paul calls it a transformation.

We need transformation because we aren’t what we should be or what God wants. Born with a sinful nature, we’ll travel the wrong path almost every time we’re given the chance. Although we may make some good choices, the bad will outweigh the good because of our sinful bent. Only God can transform that. And he does when we invite him into our lives, repent of our sins, and ask him for forgiveness.

Christ’s forgiveness propels us in God’s direction instead of the selfish one we’re born with. God transforms us so we don’t look, act, or think as we once did. As we submit to the process, we begin to see beauty in our lives we never could have mustered before. Through our obedience to the spiritual disciples of prayer, Bible study, and corporate worship, God turns us into something we almost don’t recognize. Nor do others.

I explained our new backyard to others by praising my wife’s creative genius and our hard work. We explained our new way of life by praising God’s grace and creative genius.

Make sure you are submitting to God’s transforming work.

Father, help me to submit to your transforming work in my life.

Tweetable: Are you letting God transform you? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Freezing Out Temptation - Martin Wiles

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:14 NLT

The humungous concrete trough begged us to place our parched toes in its tantalizing coolness.

Life on the farm was different every day. My cousin and I could find more adventures than we had time for. We sat around this particular day, thinking about what we could do. Where we sat was on a ledge just above a concrete trough filled with green water.

Running around barefoot wasn’t uncommon. Why not plunge our dirty, parched feet into this water? We did. Within a few days, I noticed a circle on my foot. When I showed it to Mom, she immediately took me to the doctor, who froze it. The stagnant water had produced ringworm.

While the freezing process was somewhat unpleasant, this infestation wasn’t as deadly as the one James speaks of. The sinful nature we’re born with leads us into temptations of various types and degrees and drags us into sinful activities and thoughts. Of course, Satan and his demonic hordes are involved, but we don’t need any help being bad.

Satan, however, often provides the stagnant water that draws our attention to areas we should avoid. With Eve, it was fruit from the one tree God told her and Adam to leave alone. For King Saul, it was a jealous spirit. With David, it was sexual lust. For the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, it was power and an attitude of spiritual superiority.

God, however, provides the strength to freeze out a pattern of sinful activity. We must put forth the effort. We know our nature and what our weaknesses are. Satan learns them and uses them to his advantage. When we live with a desire for holiness and purity, We’ll make a valid attempt to stay away from people and situations we know will pull us down and entice us to sin.

Even as a young boy, I probably had better sense than to put my feet in stagnant water—but I did it anyway. When we’re determined to live a holy lifestyle, we’ll depend on God to give us direction and stop us from putting our feet—and eyes and hands--where they don’t belong.

Let God help you freeze out temptation.

Father, remind me you will never let me be tempted beyond what I can bear with your help. 

Tweetable: Are you freezing out temptation? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Why We’re Here - Martin Wiles

Should I pray, “Father, save me from what lies ahead?” But that is the very reason why I came. John 12:27 NLT

Our reason for existence sometimes takes time to discover.

As a child, staying with my paternal grandparents was second nature. When I was pre-school age, my grandmother was my babysitter. I rode with her in her 1930s green Chevy and helped her ring doorbells—though I never heard her say, “Avon calling.”

One day--then in middle school--while sitting beside my grandmother, I confessed: “I think God wants me to be a Bible teacher.” I had accepted Christ several years before and now considered why God had placed me on earth. Although it took cascading through some years of rebellion, I finally succumbed to God’s will. Sure enough, I became a Bible teacher and a pastor. God’s plan for me has changed and developed, but I’m still reminded of when I discovered why God placed me here.

Though God, Jesus was also human and, like everyone, had to discover why he was on earth. We can’t be sure when the Father revealed that, but he did. The thought of the cross repulsed Jesus, but he knew it was why he was here.

Above all else, we’re here to glorify God. He created us, and our thoughts and actions should reflect him to others by their purity and holiness. Jesus said we should let our lights shine so that others can see him through us and glorify the Father in heaven.

We’re here to serve God. Beyond loving him with our entire being—which Jesus said was the greatest commandment--we’re to love and serve others. Jesus even went so far as to say that’s how we serve him. Sharing God’s love is vital to our walk with him. We share by telling why Jesus was here, showing the difference he can make in a person’s life, and giving ourselves to him and others.

We’re here to allow God to form us in Christ’s image. Sometimes, we don’t enjoy the avenues God chooses to do that, but bucking him won’t yield the results he wants. Submission and obedience will.

When we live out the reason God put us here, we’ll enjoy life and live it fully.

Father, thank you for creating me with purpose. Guide me to live out your plan for my life. 

Tweetable: Have you discovered why you are here? 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Chicken and Rice Perlo

Ingredients

7 BONELESS/SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS

2 CUPS MINUTE RICE

LARGE CARTON OF CHICKEN BROTH

1 STICK OF BUTTER

SALT/PEPPER

½ TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER

½ TEASPOON ONION POWDER

16 OUNCES SOUR CREAM

1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

Directions 

BOIL CHICKEN IN WATER, BUTTER, SALT/PEPPER, GARLIC, AND ONION POWDER UNTIL TENDER.

REMOVE CHICKEN FROM BROTH, SHRED, AND RETURN TO BROTH.

ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND SIMMER ON LOW UNTIL RICE IS TENDER.

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Finalizing the Final Affairs - Martin Wiles

Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness. 2 Kings 20:1 NLT

Handling final affairs can be sobering but helpful.

Sometime before my father died, he arranged most of his final affairs. Although he never visited the funeral home and selected a casket, he did have his order of service mapped out, as well as a burial site chosen. This made it much easier on Mom and us boys when he died.

Later, when Mom remarried, she and her new husband went even further. Even though they decided to keep the original burial plots they had selected from previous marriages, they redrew their wills. Mom, too, has planned out her funeral service. The only thing we three sons will have to do is choose her casket.

Finalizing our final affairs isn’t pleasant, but it’s wise. King Hezekiah faced his mortality when he became deathly ill. Isaiah the prophet visited him and told him to arrange his affairs. He would soon die.

A loved one’s death is taxing on a family. Having a will made so a particular state can’t take what doesn’t belong to them—or so the family members won’t get bottled up in legal battles as they divide the loved one’s estate--is vital. What a will states doesn’t always please family members, but having one is still more advantageous than not.

Picking out a burial plot and then taking a trip to the funeral home to select a casket and make arrangements to pay for final affairs isn’t a bad idea either. No one enjoys facing their mortality, but already having the final details taken care of gives the family more time to grieve properly.

Whether or not we want it to be, life is brief—even when it’s eighty or more years. Anne Bradstreet, one of the two noted poets from Puritan America—in writing of the death of her grandchild—wrote:

Or sigh thy days so soon were terminate

Sith thou are settled in an everlasting state.

Though life is tenuous and uncertain—as is proven every day by terrorist acts, natural disasters, and other tragedies--we don’t have to live with fear. Bradstreet concluded her poem with the line: “Is by His hand alone that guides nature and fate.”

Planning your final affairs is prudent; ensuring your life is securely in God’s care is even more so.

Father, knowing life is precious but brief, help me to live prepared to meet you. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.

Trusting the Unseen - Martin Wiles

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:17 NLT

Financial crunches sometimes reveal the unseen.

Ours was a financial crunch like we hadn’t seen lately. The payment for our low-mileage used car drained from our bank account, so we had to decide. As much as we hated parting with it, we had to let our car go back. In its place, we purchased an older vehicle of the same model with more miles. The seller advertised it as having 100K and told us before we gave it a test drive that the odometer only worked periodically.

As we drove down the road, we discovered he was right—at least in one respect. The odometer wasn’t showing the mileage. But then, suddenly, the mileage appeared. Although the owner had been truthful about the odometer, he hadn’t been about the mileage. One hundred thousand was 205,000. Now we had another decision.

Three years later, we didn’t regret our decision to purchase it. We experienced no trouble, even though we rarely saw the odometer. Occasionally, it appeared--long enough for us to know it was working and to mentally note the mileage so we could tell the service attendant the next time we had the oil changed. We trusted the unseen.

A foreign king hounded the prophet Elisha, wanting to end his life. When Elisha’s servant saw the army surrounding him and his master, he cried out in fear: “What will we do now?” Elisha prayed that God would help him see the unseen—and God did. The hillside around them ignited with horses and chariots of fire. Elisha trusted the unseen.

The times I’ve seen God’s hand at work in vivid color are somewhat like the odometer on that car—rarely seen. But they come around regularly enough to let me know he’s continually working behind the scenes. My life is in his hands, and he is constantly working to form me into his Son’s image, to protect me from unforeseen danger, and to supply my every need—even if it’s an older model car with high mileage. Through explicit and unexplainable occurrences—as well as through the kindness of others--God leads us to trust his unseen hand.

We don’t always observe God’s hand, but he lovingly controls the world and faithfully works to provide for our needs. Trust him in the unseen.

Father, thank you for letting me know you work behind the scenes even when I can’t see your hand. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book 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.