Be Secure - Martin Wiles

For I can do everything with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13 NLT

Donned in my walking attire, I looked at my wife and said, “Anyone who can wear this is secure in themselves.”

For years, I’ve walked to keep off the extra pounds. But one day, when I dressed in the clothes I intended to wear while walking, my wife took one look and said, “That’s a hot mess.”

My pants had stripes, and my jacket had checks. I topped off my outfit with a striped Fedora hat. I really didn’t care what anyone else thought about my outfit—but that hasn’t always been true.

When I was a young lad, my appearance caused me great insecurity. Somewhere along the line, I stopped caring what others thought and became secure in my identity.

Paul had many reasons to be insecure after choosing to follow Christ. He was hounded frequently by unbelievers who would have loved nothing better than to destroy his ministry. The multiple trials he faced also added to his precarious situation. But he was confident.

As followers of Christ, we can be secure in our identity. The Bible calls us saints. The last time I checked, I was far from sainthood, but that’s my position in Christ. When we trust Christ as our Savior and receive his forgiveness, we trade in the label of “sinner.” Though we still sin, it’s not the pattern of our lives, nor does it have to be. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live above sin regularly.

As believers, we can also be secure in our life situations. Paul experienced good times and bad times. He established many churches and witnessed thousands trust Christ as their Savior, but he also experienced patience-trying and life-threatening situations. Yet he was secure. In another place, he wrote, I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. Learning that lesson isn’t easy or quick, but when we’ve mastered it, unpleasant situations won’t cause us to feel insecure.

Further, as God’s child, we can be secure in our gifts. God gives all believers at least one gift of the Spirit, but most have more. Our responsibility is to use it (or them) wisely, faithfully, and in ways that honor the God who gave them.

If your life is hounded by insecurities, God can empower you to overcome them.

Father, I give my insecurities to you, believing you can help me conquer each one. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

The Pain of Rejection - Martin Wiles

So because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23 NLT

Rejection is never pleasant, and Robert knew all about it.

Ronnie was a member of the first church I pastored. He and his family were faithful members as well as hard workers. But he faced the daily pain of rejection. His brother lived next door but rarely spoke to him. Years before, a family dispute had disrupted their relationship. Ronnie received most of the family estate when their father died—but only because he paid for it. His brother didn’t believe that, however. All he could see was favoritism. He took out his anger through acts of rejection. One was by rarely speaking to his brother. The other was by building a fence between their houses.

Although it was his fault, King Saul of Israel knew the pain of rejection—and from a higher source. Saul had a habit of disobeying God’s commands. Finally, God had enough and took the kingship from him.

God isn’t in the business of rejection. Had Saul repented, God would have restored his relationship with him—even though the consequence of losing the kingdom would have held. Once we enter God’s family, we’re there for good. He’ll never turn or throw us away unless we choose not to believe in him. Unfortunately, others don’t always act as God does.

Regardless of whom rejection comes from, it hurts. By its very nature, rejection is painful. God rejected Saul for disobedience, but others might reject us for numerous reasons. Rejection can come from our appearance, intelligence, or what we have or don’t have. Or because we hurt someone, because we don’t fit in, because we have an education, or because they found someone else.

Trusting God for peace when we’ve experienced rejection is always wise. No one or thing can give peace as he can. Even though someone has broken our trust, it’s also important that we don’t stop trusting everyone just because of what we’ve experienced with one. Not everyone will reject us. We can also find comfort by reading God’s Word, reading other Christian material, and praying. In times of rejection, having a good group of Christian friends is equally important. Because they have experienced Christian love, they know how to support and comfort us.

When others reject you, rejoice that God never does.

Father, thank you for allowing me to run to your arms of security and comfort when others reject me.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

In the Fog - Anita van der Elst

And the glory of the LORD settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud. Exodus 24:16 NLT 

A line in a novel sparked my thoughts. A character remarked, “A fog of books sounds like a very good problem to have.”

Whether driving through fog patches, being unable to discern clearly what lies ahead, or feeling like my mind is foggy as I try to concentrate on serious concepts, I never saw fog as beneficial. But then, thoughts of how God expressed himself through the cloud on Mount Sinai and later in the Temple arose. I remembered that clouds are similar to fog because they are both formed of water vapor. Jesus referred to the living water he would give anyone who believes in him. The Word of God refreshes like cool water from a bubbling spring.

Indeed, I cannot see through the fog or the cloud. But when I allow myself to be enveloped by God’s Spirit, like Moses on Mount Sinai, when I peruse God's words written down in the Bible, that great “fog of books,” and rely on him to counsel me on my steps, I experience refreshing comfort. Through that screen of spiritual condensation, the Lord protects me from seeing what could frighten me. He drenches me with ample opportunity to trust in him as I move along step by step.  

Avail yourself of the refreshing condensation of God's Word. Take a step into the cloud of his presence today.

Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, this book is 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.

Bacon, Cheese, and Hashbrown Casserole

 

Ingredients

1 Bag of Shredded Hashbrowns 

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 Bag of Real Bacon Bits

Salt/Pepper

2 Tablespoons Butter

Directions

Mix all ingredients and place in a casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Proving Our Faith - Martin Wiles

God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. Acts 2:22 NLT

When I began dating my wife, I had to prove I loved her. Although I loved her initially, only saying that wasn’t sufficient. Actions were required—actions that included telling her I loved her and showing her in various ways. We went on dates, I bought her presents, and I showed her affectionate acts. I tried not to get angry with her. If I offended her, I apologized.

She loved me from the beginning, too, but she didn’t completely trust me. Through actions and words that proved my love for her, I also proved she could trust me—a necessary ingredient in any lasting relationship. By the time we married, she trusted and loved me completely. But marriage didn’t stop the need to prove my love. I continue to say and do things that let her know I love her.

As Peter preached to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, he reminded them how God had proven that Jesus was the Messiah of the world. God allowed Him to perform miracles and other wonders that no ordinary human could do. During His short three-year ministry, Jesus continually did things that proved His identity and love for humanity.

While God saves us by his grace and our faith in Him, we must prove our faith to others and ourselves. Such proof doesn’t come through an arrogant attitude and parading around as if we’re better than those who don’t follow Christ. The light we shine shouldn’t say, “I’m better than you.” Such an attitude repels instead of draws.

Good works prove our faith. Because we have the love of Christ in our hearts, we desire to share that with others through various means. There are myriad ways we can show good works. If we ask, God will give us opportunities and the wisdom to respond to them.

Consistency is also crucial when it comes to good works. A spurt of love now and again won’t suffice. God expects us to do godly things for others regularly. He also expects love to be the motivating factor behind those good works, not a guilty conscience or any other undesirable characteristic.

Think of ways you can prove your faith to others.

Father, I ask for opportunities to show others the love You have shown me and your love for them. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

The Tasting - Lynne Phipps

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV

My granddaughters enjoy baking. As they age, I am teaching them how to read and follow a recipe.  They need to understand what ingredients to use, how to read the measurements, and how to follow the mixing method. Knowing and setting the oven temperature and time is vital, as is choosing the right container or tray to use for baking.

As we prepare and bake the recipe, the girls comment on how good it smells. However, we only prove its goodness when we taste it. Unfortunately, two out of three of us are disaccharide intolerant. This means we can understand, follow, and complete a recipe, but tasting it is out of bounds if the product contains double sugar called sucrose. 

Just as one granddaughter and I have to miss out on this final tasting step, when it comes to baking, we believers can also miss out on tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.  Perhaps we have followed God’s recipe for salvation by believing and accepting Christ into our lives. Maybe we are regular church attendees. Reading our Bibles and attending Bible studies or prayer meetings may also be spiritual habits. 

Nevertheless, if we miss the vital step of trusting God and his Word enough to taste it by putting it into daily practice, we may only taste the Lord’s true goodness irregularly. We may know God’s Word by memory. We may even enjoy reading it. But it is only in the practical application that we taste the truth, goodness, and wisdom within it.

Although we may follow it and put it into practice, some questions arise--questions I ask myself. How often do we worry? Do we trust God enough to tithe and give generously above tithing? Do we talk to the person who has wronged us or instead talk about them? Do we do good to those who wrong us or only to those who do good to us? Do we unwittingly choose to only trust and put into practice certain spiritual teachings?

These are only a few of the questions we can ask ourselves. But in light of them, we must reconsider how much we taste and see the Lord’s goodness.

How about you? Think of some areas in which you might need to taste a little more of God’s goodness by putting all of his Word into practical action?

Father God, thank you that as I apply the truth of your Word to my life, I can taste and know how good you are all the time. In Christ’s name, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Live in Hope and Thankfulness - Abigail Skelton

Praise be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

On a hot August day, my friend Julie and I wore heavy coats and bike helmets—not because we were biking, but because we decided to go spelunking in the lava tubes in Northern California’s Klamath Basin. More accurately, I had decided to go. 

Julie was visiting from Germany and was at the mercy of my adventurous tour. But when we found ourselves lost in an underground tunnel that involved crawling on our knees over lava rock, the fault was truly all mine.

Losing track of directions is one thing. I have plenty of experience with that. But being underground in pitch-black darkness with no sense of north or south is even more disconcerting. We talked aloud about what to do if our phone flashlights suddenly stopped working. Had that happened, we could’ve easily found ourselves on search and rescue lists. Fortunately, retracing one’s steps is wise, and we reemerged into the blindly bright high-desert landscape within no time.

On the surface, Julie and I marveled over how starkly different the two worlds were: above ground, where the air was warm and we could see for miles, and below ground, where our breath hung in the air and we couldn’t have seen our own noses in the darkness.

To God, I imagine our sinful lives look like overly ambitious explorers wandering in the cave and trying to find a way out. Personally, I seem to enjoy wandering in the darkness. It’s fun to see how far I can make it—before I trip and scuff my knees on volcanic rock or cherished sins, which will do far worse damage than any lava rock. 

Jesus, too, ventured down into the dark recesses of sin and showed us the way out—back to daylight, back to God.

Don't let stubbornness lead you to venture back underground. Instead, live in the hope and thankfulness of a life spent with Jesus.

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Tater Tot Casserole

 

Ingredients
1 BAG FROZEN TATER TOTS

16 OUNCES SOUR CREAM

2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE 

1 CAN CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

1 6-OUNCE CAN OF FRENCH FRIED ONIONS

Directions
ARRANGE TATER TOTS IN A GREASED BAKING DISH.

IN A BOWL, MIX TOGETHER SOUP, CHEESE, AND SOUR CREAM.

POUR MIXTURE OVER TATER TOTS AND TOP WITH FRENCH FRIED ONIONS.

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 40 TO 45 MINUTES.
(Photo courtesy of wearychef.com.)

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Known for What - Martin Wiles

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, which brought honor to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 1 Kings 10:1 NLT

Most know her only as the creator of Harry Potter. 

Most people don’t know what J. K. Rowling went through before becoming successful. Rowling first conceived the idea of Harry Potter in 1990 as she rode a train from Manchester to London. She began putting the fully-formed story onto paper but was interrupted when her mother died after a ten-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Two years later, Rowling moved to Portugal, where she taught English, met a man, married, and had a daughter. One year later, the marriage ended. She then moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to be closer to her sister. By this time, she had three chapters of the future famous book in her suitcase.

Rowling didn’t see herself as a successful person but a failure. She had no job and no money. She was also divorced and had a child. Bouts of depression assaulted her, and she eventually found herself signing up for welfare.  

By 1995, Rowling had finished the book—but had also experienced rejection from twelve major publishers. One year later, Bloomsbury, a small publishing house, accepted her manuscript and offered her a small advance. They published the book in 1997 but printed only one thousand copies, five hundred of which they distributed to libraries.  

Amazingly, in 1997 and 1998, Harry Potter won awards from Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year. Today, Rowling’s books have sold more than four hundred million copies, and she is considered one of the most successful women authors in the United Kingdom.

King Solomon wrote, too, but people knew him for more than that. His fame made headlines, so much so that the queen of Sheba had to see him for herself. His material and chattel possessions amazed her, but so did his wisdom. Especially the way he solved a puzzle about which mother a particular baby belonged to. When two women came claiming a specific child belonged to them—and neither would tell the truth—Solomon demanded that the child be cut in half and one half given to each woman. Of course, the birth mother didn’t want her child killed, so she offered it to the woman making the false claim.

Some girls are known for wanting the bad boys, and some boys are known for wanting the bad girls. Rowling certainly isn’t the only person known for overcoming difficult circumstances and moving ahead to success. Successful people fill history’s pages. And other authors trump Rowland’s reputation.

Of all the things for which others could know us—or of all the things for which we might want to be known—God has his own list in mind. His list might not make us famous or known worldwide, but living by his directory will bring us peace, fulfillment, and joy, as we won’t discover anywhere else.

God’s roster includes honesty, integrity, selflessness, kindness, love, joy, and optimism. Things Jesus modeled while on earth. Traits some didn’t appreciate but that others admired. Things, however, that pleased his heavenly Father.

Our enemy will tempt us to be known for things that displease God, but God gives us a different list. When we allow others to know us by the things on God’s register, we’ll please God. And that, after all, is the most important thing in life. At the end of the day, what God thinks is all that matters.

Make up your mind to be known by those characteristics that reflect the God you serve.

Father, I want to be known as your follower and reflect your traits in my life. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

An Inheritance from God - Martin Wiles

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NLT

Inheritances aren’t always what we envision.

My aunt had inherited most of the belongings from my maternal grandmother’s house when she died. When my aunt died, Mom hoped to get some of the family heirlooms back. But it didn’t happen as she wished. My aunt had three children. What she had was rightfully theirs. If they chose to share, we would appreciate it.

Several pieces of furniture that had belonged to my grandmother were especially dear to Mom. Mom voiced her love for them, but my aunt held on. All Mom received was a China cabinet she had purchased before she and Dad married—one she asked my aunt to keep while she and Dad were overseas—a picture my aunt had painted of the old homeplace, and two end tables and a coffee table that matched my grandmother’s living room suit that Mom had inherited earlier.

I come from a middle-class family and have no monetary or other inheritance in the waiting. But I do have another type of inheritance that surpasses anything I could get from a deceased family member.

Paul praised God for his spiritual inheritance—one available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. This inheritance is eternal. When I placed my faith in Jesus Christ and asked him to forgive my sins, he immediately began preparing a heavenly home for me. Nothing can change that.

Earthly inheritances, we can spend. Even if we invest them, we must leave them behind at some point for someone else to enjoy. But our eternal inheritance is secure. God won’t change his mind and take it from us—even when we misbehave.

Our inheritance is also a present reality. We don’t have to wait until we die or Jesus returns to get it. Presently, God adopts us into his family. While some adopted children aren’t treated equally with biological children, God treats all his children the same. He grants forgiveness for every sin and never takes this back. Nor does he show favoritism. Instead, he loves all his children equally and gives us the same things he gives to his Son.

Abundant living—existing with peace and joy—also accompanies our inheritance. Because of what Jesus has done for us presently and promises to do for us in the future, we can enjoy life for the very first time.

Make sure you enjoy God’s present inheritance.

Father, thank you for the eternal inheritance I have in Jesus Christ. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Visually Impaired - Martin Wiles

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. Isaiah 53:3 NLT

Without them, my world is one big blob of indistinguishable faces and blurry images.

While some wear glasses with plastic frames simply because they think they are stylish, this wasn’t the case when I first got them. Wearing glasses wasn’t popular. The derogatory term for those who did was “four eyes.” I endured the agony of being labeled. I was visually impaired and could do nothing about it but endure the agony of rejection and blurriness.

By the time I was retirement age, things hadn’t changed much. My blurry world remained the same if I removed my glasses. Then, my cornea specialist diagnosed me as possibly having early stages of glaucoma. Additionally, he diagnosed me with dry-eye disease.

Many also rejected the Messiah because they were visually impaired—just not physically. Theirs was a spiritual impairment because they missed such prophecies as this one and majored on ones dealing with His conquering nature.

What caused them to be sighted but blind can bring the same result in our lives. Pride can lead to visual impairment. The ancient Jews were filled with it. Jesus illustrated their prideful nature by talking about a Pharisee and a tax collector who prayed in the Temple. The Pharisee thanked God he wasn’t like other people, especially the filthy tax collector standing in the corner.

Pride leads to trouble every time. It is one of those sins God particularly despises because of its bitter consequences. Pride makes us think we’re better than others for whatever reasons we can concoct. The sin of pride brought Adam and Eve’s downfall and will bring one to anyone who lets it creep into their lives.

Prejudice will also impair our spiritual vision. Most of the ancient Jews thought they were better than their Gentile neighbors. After all, God had chosen the Jews as his special possession. Although God had a unique plan for them, it included bringing Gentiles into God’s fold. Unfortunately, the Jews often ignored God’s plan because they thought they were superior.

Additionally, selfishness impairs our spiritual vision. When life is all about us, we won’t see God’s plan—even when it’s staring us in the face. Selfishness causes us to miss God’s best while keeping the focus on me, myself, and I.

Don’t walk around with spiritual blindness. Let God remove those things that keep you from seeing his best.  

Father, give me the courage to put away those things that would spiritually impair my vision. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Taco Casserole

 

 

Ingredients

1 POUND GROUND BEEF

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

½ GREEN PEPPER (CHOPPED)

      

8 OUNCES FROZEN CORN

2 TABLESPOONS TACO SEASONING

2/3 CUPS WATER

8 OUNCES SALSA

2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEESE

TORTILLA CHIPS

Directions

BROWN MEAT, ONION, AND PEPPER TOGETHER.

ADD CORN, TACO SEASONING, WATER, AND SALSA.

MIX ALL TOGETHER.

SPREAD HALF IN A BAKING DISH.

TOP WITH HALF CHIPS AND CHEESE.

SPREAD REMAINING MEAT.

TOP WITH CHIPS AND CHEESE.

BAKE AT 350 AT 20 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

Good as Our Word - Martin Wiles

Just say a simple, “Yes, I will,” or “No, I won’t.” Anything beyond this is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 NLT

Even as a young boy, I knew he was as good as his word.

My paternal grandfather was a simple man. He didn’t come from a wealthy family. In fact, he grew up in a small shack snuggled in the middle of a field—a shack that had to accommodate him, his parents, and five other siblings. To make matters worse, when my grandfather was only twelve, he had to watch his father die, leaving him as the man of the house. Along with an uncle who agreed to help, my grandfather quit school in the sixth grade to care for the family farm. And all of this happened just before the great stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression.

By the time I came along, my grandfather hadn’t changed much in many respects. Although he wasn’t a farmer any longer—he drove an ice cream truck—he remained the simple man he had always been. My grandfather never met a stranger, so talking to anyone he came into contact with meant a conversation, which generally began about the weather.

My grandfather never made much money, so occasionally, he would “rob Peter to pay Paul,” as he said. He might do this to buy a house, purchase a used car (he never owned a new vehicle in his lifetime), make a costly house repair, buy a lawnmower, or get a new washing machine. It took all he and my grandmother made to make ends meet, so anything unexpected meant borrowing money.

Since unexpected things happened more than once, in time, my grandfather built quite a reputation with the local banker, and they became friends. If my grandfather needed money, all he had to do was visit his “friend” at the bank and ask. I’m sure my grandfather had to sign some paperwork—although I doubt it was as much as he’d have to sign if he were alive today—but the manager didn’t run a credit check. He knew my grandfather was as good as his word. If my grandfather said he’d repay the money, he would. If he said he would make a monthly payment of a certain amount on a particular day, he did.

What Jesus teaches—that we shouldn’t make vows or promises and shore them up by swearing by something—is somewhat impossible in developed countries. If I need to borrow, my word alone won’t do. I must sign mounds of paperwork and perhaps even put up collateral. Never have I purchased a car with only a promise to pay.

Although we may have to sign paperwork to borrow money, Jesus’ principle can still apply. The people we make promises to should see we’re as good as our word. And this goes beyond borrowing money. Any promise we make, we should honor, which means thinking carefully about what we promise and taking our promises seriously.

When we’re as good as our word, our character shines through and so does our reputation—something that takes time to build, but something we can ruin by hasty or bad decisions. Once ruined, rebuilding it takes a long time. People know us as truth-tellers or deceivers, someone they can trust or someone they can’t.

Ask God to help you be as good as your word—especially since the word you carry represents God’s word.

Father, help me follow your example by being as good as my word. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.

When the Bottom Falls Out - Martin Wiles

Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Acts 2:37 NLT

I saw that the bottom was about to fall out, but I couldn’t do a thing. 

The speeding car zoomed past my driveway, a mere one hundred feet from a stop sign. The driver would soon cross a major highway. I quickly looked up and down the highway to see if the driver could avoid an accident. He couldn’t. A lone car meandered down the highway and was soon t-boned by the speeding car that ran the stop sign. The driver who ran the stop sign wasn’t seriously injured, but the lady in the other vehicle had to be flown to a nearby hospital and undergo several surgeries. She never knew her bottom was about to fall out.

Nor did those Peter preached to on the Day of Pentecost. Imagine their surprise when he used references from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was God’s Messiah sent to save the world. Then came the convicting blow when he informed them they were responsible for his crucifixion. Their bottom was about to fall out unless they acted.

How the bottom looks varies between individuals and even within the same individual. Bottoms can include financial hardships, divorces, deaths, arrests, addictions, unemployment, rebellion, unfaithfulness, etc. Our reaction to the bottoms that fall out is more important than what the bottom actually is.

The least desirable reaction would be turning our backs on God. God never allows or sends trials, hoping this will happen. While he rarely clues us in on why something happened, he never intends for us to walk away from him. He wanted those listening to Peter to turn to him, not away.

If we let them, the bottoms will always increase our patience. Trials try. It’s their nature. God’s purpose in allowing or bringing them is to enhance our patience with ourselves, others, and him. Patience should be a sought-after virtue. Those who learn it fare better throughout life’s circumstances.

Bottoms will also increase our faith. God rewarded those who responded to Peter’s sermon by placing their faith in Jesus with forgiveness and eternal life. Trials stretch our faith in God’s goodness, protection, and guidance. As our faith in him grows, we’ll trust him more and gain more spiritual victories over sin and unpleasant circumstances.

Think of how you typically respond when your bottom falls out.

Father, encourage me to fall into your arms when the bottoms fall out. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is 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.