Safe in the Shelter - Martin Wiles

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 NLT

The shelter was only a few hundred feet away, but at the moment, it may as well have been a mile.

I had grown accustomed to storms while hiking in the mountains. Which is why I started early in the morning so I could finish before late afternoon, when storms were known to arrive. 

On this particular day, my brother, daughter, and I were on the Appalachian Trail in northern Georgia. We planned to arrive at our destination around noon, set up camp, and then ditch our packs before hiking for a few more miles.

We reached our destination on time, but as soon as we unloaded, thunder rolled across the mountains. We quickly set up our tents. No sooner had we driven the last stake than powerful pelting rain, sharp peels of lightning, and booming bangs of thunder slithered across the mountains. A trail shelter was only three hundred feet away, but we couldn’t reach it at the moment.

During a brief lull in the lightning and thunder, we ran for the shelter like deer from hunting dogs. Soaked to the skin, we huddled in the crude building for the next four hours, listening as one storm after another marched across the mountains.

The psalmist also discovered a shelter in the God he served—a shelter that provided rest and comfort.

The mountain storms I’ve encountered were nothing compared to some of the life storms I’ve experienced. During these times, the shelter of God’s protection often seemed close but unreachable. But it only appeared that way. 

God always has a shelter for our troubled souls. The storm may continue to rage, but we're protected from harm when we rest in God’s sheltering arms.

Just as we had to make an effort to get to the shelter, we, too, must run to the shelter God provides. Our efforts demonstrate to God that we recognize our need and love for him. And that we understand we can’t handle life on our own.

Shelters of various styles dot the length of the Appalachian Trail. God is our ultimate shelter, but he manifests himself in different ways. Sometimes, he shelters us through the presence of others.

God’s shelters are always close when the storms of life pummel. Run to him often, and find the protection and peace he offers.

Father, may I remember that you are my ultimate shelter in the storms of life.

Check out our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@pastormartinwiles.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

A Lifetime God - Martin Wiles

I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. Isaiah 46:4 NLT

For fourteen years, I had driven pre-owned vehicles, but things were finally about to change.

In 2002, I bought a new mini SUV. Shortly after purchasing it, my daughter left for college, and the SUV left with her. Life circumstances changed for me shortly before she left, and I couldn’t afford to purchase another new vehicle. For the next fourteen years, my wife and I drove used vehicles. Fortunately, we had little trouble, but we hungered for a new vehicle that we didn’t have to worry about breaking down.

Then suddenly, God put us in a different situation that would allow us to make a modest purchase. We looked for an economical crossover with a good safety record and a low price tag and found the car my wife had dreamed about. The icing on the cake was the car’s warranty—ten years or 100,000 miles. And several more warranties that covered major parts hidden within that one broad spectrum. It was almost like having a lifetime warranty.

God used Isaiah the prophet to assure the nation of Israel that God would be their God throughout their lifetime, if they so desired. I think they wanted it, although they often didn’t act as if they did.

God has been a lifetime God for me. I attended church before I slurped my first breath of air and have been ever since. Even in my times of sinful rebellion, I still loved and worshiped God. 

As my lifetime-God, he never left me. I walked away from him for several years, but he remained ready to accept me back when I returned. Unconditional love he calls it. 

I discovered there is no force more powerful than God—including Satan. Jesus said no one could snatch us out of the Father's hands. We can choose to walk away, but no force can remove us.

Knowing God wants our company for a lifetime gives a sense of security—one of the basic life needs necessary to live fully and peacefully without emotional upsets. When we have the assurance that God is our lifetime God, we can live with confidence, serve him with confidence, and die with confidence.

With Christ as our Savior, we have a lifetime warranty. He will never abandon us.

Father, thank you for your love that lasts a lifetime and even into eternity.

Check out our Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@pastormartinwiles.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Cheez-It Chicken

Ingredients

6 to 8 TYSON’S THIN AND FANCY CHICKEN BREAST

1 BLOCK PEPPER JACK CHEESE (SHREDDED) 

1 ENVELOPE TACO SEASONING     

½ BOX CHEEZ-ITS

Directions

LAY EACH CHICKEN BREAST ON A GREASED COOKIE SHEET.

TOP EACH PIECE WITH CHEESE AND THEN FOLD IN HALF.

STICK A TOOTHPICK IN EACH PIECE TO SECURE THE CLOSER.

IN A SEPARATE BOWL, CRUSH THE CHEEZ-ITS AND MIX WITH THE TACO SEASONING.

ROLL EACH PIECE OF CHEESY CHICKEN IN THE TACO MIXTURE.

BAKE UNCOVERED AT 350 DEGREES FOR 35 TO 40 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Doing Things the Right Way - Martin Wiles

So Sarai took her servant, an Egyptian woman named Hagar, and gave her to Abram so she could bear his children. Genesis 16:1-2 NLT

Turning the handle the right way produced gas flow; turning it the wrong way produced nothing.

Having a gas tank on his property was essential for my maternal grandfather. After all, he was a full-time farmer who lived twenty miles from a gas station. Getting fuel from the tank took a little know-how. And I didn’t. But my cousin, who lived next door, taught me. 

The large fuel tank was equipped with a pump and a large handle. The handle had to be reversed three or four times to prime the pump. Once primed, the pump handle had to be turned in the opposite direction. When done correctly, fuel flowed into the gas tank.

God’s plan entails a right and a wrong way. God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah. Both were elderly and past the age of having children. Abraham believed God’s promise; Sarah laughed at it. Sarah also suggested a plan to help God after the promised heir didn’t arrive quickly enough. Sadly, Abraham agreed. A son was born, but it wasn’t the son of promise.

God has a plan for each of us, as well as a world plan. He had a specific direction He wanted me to travel. I did, but not initially. At the same time, I’m not a robot. God gives me free will, enabling me to thwart his plan, at least to a degree, just as Abraham and Sarah did.

Since God is all-powerful and all-knowing, He can work around my goof-ups. He allowed me a few years of rebellion, during which I made many stupid mistakes. He also allowed Abraham and Sarah the opportunity to do it their way.

God’s love leads him to bless us in spite of our periods of disobedience. He blessed me with extended opportunities and gave Abraham and Sarah another chance to do things the right way. God works within the confines of our free will to bring about his purposes and plans.

Of course, when we ignore God’s plan, he will send discipline and punishment. Altering or temporarily postponing God’s plan can bring the same. God has a perfect plan and a permissive plan. And some parts of God’s plan are simply non-negotiable—like the Second Coming of Christ.

Make sure you are doing things the right way as they relate to God’s plan for you.

Father, give me the faith I need to do things your way.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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 God Calls - Martin Wiles

So he said to Samuel, “Go lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:9 NLT

With a clear, distinct whistle, my grandfather mimicked the female bobwhite until the male was almost within sight.

Pappy, as I called my maternal grandfather, was an early riser. Why, I’m not sure. He farmed … a little. He made his living doing it but hired out most of the manual labor. He was up by five every morning, made his cup of instant coffee, and retired to the porch, where he smoked his cigarettes and waited for the sun to top the nearby row of pines.

As dawn began to break, the distant call of the male quail was common. Pappy puckered his lips, whistled a counter tune, and waited for the bobwhite to answer. When he did, Pappy would call again. Within a few minutes, the male would be perched in the large magnolia tree just a few feet away from the porch where Pappy sat. The male answered what he thought was a female’s call. What he found was a tall, overweight farmer.

After Samuel’s mother weaned him, she took him to the temple to assist Eli, the priest. As Samuel lay on his bed, God called. Not being familiar with God’s voice--and since God’s word was rare in those days--he assumed it was Eli. Eli thought the boy was hearing things, but after three times, he concluded it was God calling Samuel.

Just as my grandfather did the quail, God calls people to trust him as Savior, to enter a special area of service, or to walk closer with him. When God calls, we have a few options. We can obey, disobey, or delay doing anything. The free will God has instilled in us allows us to make these choices.

Of course, obedience is the best choice. We should obey all of God’s calls out of love and appreciation for what he has allowed his Son to do on Calvary’s cross. No one has ever demonstrated a more significant act of love. But obedience isn’t always so simple. 

Sinful patterns, fear of surrendering to God, or uncertainty over whether we’ve heard God can all lead to ignoring God’s call, or at least a delay in answering it. Obedience, on the other hand, builds experience by listening to his call so that we’ll not mistake the voice as Samuel did when God beckons in the future.

Think about how you will respond when God calls.

Father, may I always respond with obedience when you call me. 

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Wrong Is Never Right - Martin Wiles

What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil. Isaiah 5:20 NLT

Clay was usually a good student, but on this particular day, he broke the rules.

I sat with my back partially to the class, teaching from a PowerPoint about verbs. I could see most of them with my peripheral vision, including Clay, who sat in the back. As I taught, I noticed his hand continually slipping in and out of his pocket. Each time I looked at him, he gazed back with an innocent look. 

Toward the end of class, I remarked, “By the way, I know you’ve been eating.”

Quickly defending himself, he pulled out a piece of candy and said, “But I’ve only eaten one.” 

My look of disbelief convicted him. “Okay, two,” he said, “but I didn’t get to finish my breakfast this morning, and I didn’t have my milk.”

His remark was so comical that I and the rest of the class melted into a pool of laughter. Still, what he did was against the rules. 

Isaiah pronounced a “woe” upon those who called good evil and evil good. They had twisted values. Clay’s actions proved the mistake still existed. 

Though people and times may have changed, God’s standards haven’t. He still has an ethical and social code that he expects us to obey. I remember when even those who weren’t believers followed God’s code simply because most of society did. Not so many years ago, President Ronald Reagan said, “Without God, there is no virtue because there’s no prompting of the conscience. If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” 

Circumstances should not determine right and wrong. Doing so leads to situational ethics. What was wrong initially is still bad and will be when time ends, regardless of whether we think God should change his mind. And following the majority is often the wrong thing for us to do. While the majority may win the vote, they can still be wrong—and they are about many forms of behavior currently accepted as permissible. 

God bases his standards on his nature, which is characterized by holiness and goodness. We can be sure God is not out to make our lives miserable. Following his guidelines will result in the best possible life there is to live. 

Satisfaction and joy never result from calling evil good.

Father, may my standards always replicate those detailed in your Word. 

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Cherry Yum Yum

 

Ingredients

4 CUPS CRUSHED GRAHAM CRACKERS

2 STICKS BUTTER (MELTED)

1 16-OUNCE CONTAINER OF COOL WHIP

2 8-OUNCE PACKS OF CREAM CHEESE (SOFTENED)

2 CANS SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

2 CANS CHERRY PIE FILLING

2 PACKAGES INSTANT VANILLA PUDDING

3 CUPS MILK

Directions

MIX PUDDING AND MILK TOGETHER AND SET ASIDE.

MIX BUTTER AND CRACKER CRUMBS AND SET ASIDE.

BEAT CREAM CHEESE AND CONDENSED MILK UNTIL FLUFFY.

ADD PUDDING AND MIX WELL. FOLD IN COOL WHIP.

IN A LARGE DISH LAYER CRACKERS CRUMBS, PUDDING MIXTURE, AND CHERRY FILLING. REPEAT LAYERS.

SAVE A FEW CRUMBS TO SPRINKLE ON TOP.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Cheating Death - Martin Wiles

You boast that you have struck a bargain to avoid death and have made a deal to dodge the grave. Isaiah 29:15 NLT

During my teenage years, I often cheated death--or so I thought.

Growing up as a teenager in the 1970s made it easy to rebel. Everyone seemed to be against something. Add to this that I was growing up in the home of a conservative preacher, and it should be easy to understand why I chose to join the rebellious. 

My rebellion took me down the path to bad addictions: tobacco, drugs, alcohol. Like most teens, I thought I was invincible. Although the thought of death frightened me, it didn’t scare me enough to make me change my ways. Driving drunk or drug-intoxicated was the norm on the weekend. How I got home safely without killing myself or someone else is nothing short of a miracle. I cheated death, but only because God had other plans for me. 

Isaiah spoke about death for his listeners who thought they could cheat death. God would send their enemies, and when they came, death would follow. 

I may have cheated death numerous times as a teenager, but I won’t cheat it in the end. If Jesus tarries with his Second Coming, I will walk the way all others have walked. Sickness will overtake me. My organs will finally shut down. A tragedy will strike. Whatever the form, death will strike. 

Death is the great leveler. We may differ from others in social standing, religious beliefs, and other ways, but the ground is level where the end of life is concerned. Science may discover many medical marvels, some of which can extend life, but it will never make a discovery that will prevent death. 

As a teen, I feared death, even while thinking I was unconquerable. Although I don’t enjoy thinking about it now, I no longer fear it. My life is now in God’s hands. He has forgiven my trespasses against him, cleaned the slate, and assured me of a heavenly home. I can now face death with the calm assurance of an eternity with my heavenly Father.

I knew Christ as a teen, but from a distance. Now I know him up close. I cannot cheat death, but I can face it through faith, with the knowledge that I’ll be victorious over it through the resurrection of my body and spirit. 

Don’t think you can cheat death. No one can.

Father, even though I must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I know you are with me and will protect me.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

God Will Supply - Martin Wiles

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

The news was bad … again. It typically was. 

I rarely enjoy filling out my annual state and federal tax forms. While I have received meager refunds for a few years, I usually owe at least one entity—often both. 

One particular year had been difficult financially. A supply-preaching opportunity had helped, but adding that income to my usual income caused bad tax news. My wife used an online service to calculate the results. 

“Well,” she mumbled, “we owe $1300 to the federal but will get a refund from the state.” 

My countenance fell. I knew we wouldn’t see the state refund. We owed the local hospital, and they’d snatch our refund. But where would we get the money to pay our federal tax obligation? 

One month after this discouraging news, we received encouraging news. The church where I had filled in now extended me the call to be their full-time pastor. Just in the nick of time to give us enough to pay our tax bill. Once again, God reminded us he would supply.

Paul was quick to acknowledge that God took care of him. When I read about his life’s challenges, I wonder how he could say that. God supplied his needs—but seldom in the manner he expected. 

I’ve noticed God’s way of doing things isn’t usually how I might do them. That includes how he supplied our needs. We planned to contact the IRS and set up a payment plan. God had another plan—one that paid the taxes in full. 

God’s manner of meeting our needs doesn’t always occur in the time frame we might imagine. Sometimes his supply comes over an extended period. At other times, as in our situation, he can meet the need in a split second. 

God can provide for our needs without the help of others but generally chooses to use others. In our case, He used a church. There have also been times when he used people who were not aware at the moment that he was using them. 

God is trustworthy. While his supply hasn’t always been what I might have wanted, it has always been just enough and what I needed. And along with the supply came the ability to endure—however long it took until he met the need fully. 

Trust God to supply your needs.

Father, I thank you that I can always trust you to meet whatever needs I have.

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Missing God’s Will - Martin Wiles

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to bear arms when they left Egypt had died. Joshua 5:6 NLT

Though my cousin and I missed more than we hit, the thrill of the throw kept us trying.

A large magnolia tree stood near the porch of my maternal grandparents’ old farmhouse. Beneath it were mounds of dead leaves and my grandfather’s old pickup truck—and the weapons my cousin and I used to aim at signposts: dead blooms. 

Those were the days when young boys could legally ride in the back of a pickup truck, stand behind the cab, or sit on the tailgate and let their feet scrape the road. Oblivious to our devilment, our grandfather puttered along at 25 mph as we aimed our weapons at every sign we passed. Most of them we missed.

The Israelites weren’t much better at hitting God’s will than my cousin and I were at smacking those signs. God gave them the Promised Land, but fear caused them to miss His plan—a decision that cost them forty years of wilderness wandering. 

Speed can cause us to miss God’s will. Although my grandfather was a slow driver, my cousin and I still had difficulty judging when to lob the magnolia bloom so it would strike the sign. I equate speed with busyness—the breakneck speed with which we often live life. Jesus took time to rest and pray to be sure he didn’t miss the Father’s plan. 

Selfishness is another culprit that can lead to missing God’s will. At the age of my cousin and me, life was all about us. We weren’t concerned about the danger of standing in the back of the pickup truck. We were invincible. Throwing while moving could have caused us to tumble onto the road, but we didn’t think about such things.

Of course, we also have disobedience to contend with. God told the Israelites he would help them take the land. They would have none of it. Once our grandparents discovered what we were doing, they no longer forbade us from throwing magnolia blooms at signs. But we did it anyway. 

Bad influences can also cause us to miss God’s will. Ten spies—rather than two--persuaded the Israelites to turn back from the Promised Land’s border. Millions listened to the majority, who, in this case, were wrong. My cousin concocted the idea of throwing the blooms. I listened and joined in the disobedience. 

Think of those things that typically cause you to miss God’s will.

Father, help me resolve to obey your will so I won’t miss what you want to do in my life. 

I invite you to try my book A Whisper in the Woods 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.

Cheeseburger Pie

 

Ingredients

1 POUND GROUND BEEF (COOKED, DRAINED)

½ TEASPOON SALT

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEESE

1 CUP MILK

½ CUP BISQUICK

2 EGGS

Directions

MIX ALL TOGETHER.

BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR 25 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.

God’s Stretch - Martin Wiles

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Once upon a time, I ran—but soon realized I must stretch before I did.

Walking has always been my favorite exercise. Not too strenuous, and easy on the knees. This prepared me for hiking in the mountains, which various family members and I did for several years. This was a little more strenuous on the knees. 

Then one day, I got the urge to begin running. Since my daughter was a track and cross-country runner, I knew I needed to stretch before I took off down the road. I watched the stretches she did and followed suit. Running exercises more muscles, so the chances of sustaining an injury are greater with running than with walking. Yet, even with the stretches, I continually battled shin splints. I’d buy medical implements designed to help relieve the pain and walk until they healed, but as soon as I started running again, they reappeared. I finally gave up on running and stuck to walking.

Though it seems inconceivable, God stretched, too. I discovered that a bit of stretching wouldn’t do the trick. The chances of injury increased if I slacked off on my stretching time—something I hated to do. (I preferred just taking off without any preparation.)

According to Paul, God’s stretch was lengthy and had far-reaching consequences. He stretched all the way to earth and us. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God sacrificed an animal and then used the skin to cover their nakedness. But these sacrifices were only temporary and insufficient.

Thousands of years later, God stretched a little further by sending his Son to die a cruel death on a rugged cross. We had failed to stretch to God, so he stretched to us. This stretch encompassed everyone who had ever lived or would ever live. Sin had injured the entire human race.

My stretching was voluntary, and so was God’s. He was under no obligation to treat our injuries. Love, however, demanded he intervene, but we must respond to God’s stretch. As his hand reaches out to us, we must reach out to him in faith and take hold, but not by good works, popularity, or payment. Our grasp must be by faith--plain and simple.

Respond today to God's stretch of faith.

Father, I thank you for stretching down in love, grace, and mercy to care for my sinful needs. 

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.

Living with Hope - Martin Wiles

You lived in this world without God and without hope. Ephesians 2:12 NLT

The Evans family lived with hope despite living in what appeared to be hopeless circumstances.

Good Times was a 1970s sitcom about a dad, mom, and three children who lived on Chicago’s bad side. Every trip carried the risk of being mugged or raped. They lived in a rickety apartment building owned by a man who cared little for his tenants. Mom stayed home, cared for the children, cleaned the house, and cooked while Dad worked—at least, most of the time. Job layoffs came regularly. But somehow, they always managed to scrape by—and with a smile on their faces. Their secret for happiness, despite their unwelcome circumstances, came through something the mom instilled in the family: hope. A hope built on a deep trust in God.

Paul reminded his readers that they once lived without hope. They had it presently only because they accepted the Jesus he preached.

Hopelessness is a terrible state of existence. Believing that nothing will ever improve or seeing a future that will never be any better than the present. Looking at the past and seeing that it wasn’t any better than the present. However, anyone can live with hope instead of succumbing to hopelessness.

As Florida Evans discovered, hope is not built on circumstances. Millions would have none on any given day if that were the case. Regardless of our financial state, living consistently without anything going wrong isn’t the norm. Hope built on circumstances quickly materializes into hopelessness.

We have hope because we trust the one who controls the circumstances and believe he can take what appears, or is, evil and form good from it. Believing he is the creator and controller of all things instills confidence.

Living with hope is an inner attitude that leads to outward change. Florida Evans was able to transfer her hope to her family, even her unbelieving husband. Hope is transferable. If we live with hope, we can give it to those God puts in our paths. Our attitude will influence theirs.

Florida Evans’ hope was built on her belief in God. Ours must be, too. Nothing else will give us true, consistent hope. All other foundations will flounder.

Choose to live with hope, not merely survive with hopelessness.

Father, I have hope that you love me, control my circumstances, and will guide me through whatever you allow into 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.

The Job of Encouragement - Anita van der Elst

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12 NLT

While staying for a couple of weeks with my daughter after the birth of her firstborn, I visited a nearby church. I was delighted that the church had a small café where one could enjoy a quick breakfast and specialty coffee before the worship service. 

Waiting for my latte and wanting to connect, I tried to engage in conversation with some folks sitting nearby. I was slightly surprised that they didn’t seem interested in doing so. This would have discouraged me in the past, but the Lord has brought maturity over time. I know He wants me to be encouraged, like Paul desired, and to encourage others. So, I looked for a connection somewhere else in the area.

The Lord did not disappoint. The next person I saw stood in the middle of the room in a circle designated “Next Steps.” A sign hung from the ceiling that read, “Start Here.” She smiled, and we conversed. Her job may have been to greet and help people, but her interest was genuine. She offered to sit with me in the sanctuary, and I readily accepted. 

Our shared camaraderie and love for our Savior greatly enhanced the worship experience. We exchanged phone numbers, and although I would go home to another state, we agreed to stay in touch. Our encounter encouraged me in my faith journey, and she said the same.

If I had let the first failed attempt to connect dictate the rest of my morning, what a loss I would have experienced. And the same for my new friend. How much better to go with the motive of seeking to encourage others in the faith.

Think of ways you can encourage others in their faith. 

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.