Choice Not Destiny - Martin Wiles

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 NLT

With a grunt and a heavy sigh, he asked, “Do we have to do this?”

Teaching students who have little interest in learning challenges the most creative and persistent teacher. I know; I teach some five days a week who couldn’t care less about school. One student came in every morning just before the late bell with a look on his face that said, “I just got out of bed, and I really have no desire to be here.” Five hours later, when he arrived in my class, his attitude hadn’t changed much. Now, he was tired of the work he had been doing for the last five hours. When he asked if he had to do a particular assignment, I said, “Yes.” The law dictates that he attend school, and the school dictates the curriculum he must pass to move from one grade to the next.

Sin sometimes feels like a dreaded assignment I must do, but Paul says otherwise. As a believer, I should consider myself dead to sin and alive to Christ.

The questions, “Do I have to complete this assignment?” and “Do I have to sin?” are similar. The answer to the first is “Yes” and “No.” Yes, if the student wants credit, but no if they didn’t.

Whether I have to sin depends on my situation as well. If I’m a believer and have the presence of God’s Spirit empowering me, then no, I don’t have to sin. Sinning is a choice, but it’s not my destiny. If I haven’t trusted Christ as my Savior, then yes, I do have to sin. My nature controls it, and I have no one to help me avoid it.

As believers, we choose to sin. God doesn’t tempt us; Satan does. God will give us the power to say no regardless of what the temptation is. And he will never allow the temptation to be so great that we can say, “I had to sin.”

Our destiny is purity and holiness. While this won’t be entirely achieved until we’re in heaven, we can make great strides toward that state of existence while on earth when we allow God’s Spirit to control our decisions and desires.

Let God give you the power to choose holiness and purity.

Father, help me understand that sinning is a choice and that you can give me the power to say, “No,” to any temptation.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Dealing with Despair - Martin Wiles

There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. 1 Kings 19:9 NLT

Both men dealt with despair by overcoming it rather than succumbing to it.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was President of the United States during the worst economic time the country had ever experienced. Through the programs he spearheaded, the country eventually recovered. His large memorial in Washington, DC, depicts some of the incidents associated with his presidency. In one area, a man sits beside the radio waiting to hear what became known as “Fireside Chats.” In another, several men line up in front of a building, representing the thousands who stood in “bread lines” waiting for government help. And in still another, a caped Roosevelt sits in his wheelchair, reminding us that his handicap didn’t deter him from carrying out his presidential obligations.

The Martin Luther King, Jr., memorial is another testimony of one who didn’t give in to despair. His statue is attached to a large piece of stone that has emerged from a mountain, splitting the mountain in half. Despair for him could have easily come from dealing with the thousands who weren’t interested in giving Blacks or other minority groups their equal rights.

Unlike Roosevelt and King, Elijah let despair overtake him. After a major defeat over pagan prophets, he had a death sentence placed on his head by the wicked queen. With despair engulfing him, Elijah ran for his life until he finally took refuge in a cave. Then God asked him what he was doing there.

Despair is never a God-originated emotional state. If I’m feeling despair, Satan is capitalizing on an unpleasant situation or relationship I’m experiencing. His goal is to make me doubt God’s goodness or ability to help me face my circumstances.

While God doesn’t always remove situations that could lead to despair, he doesn’t expect us to give in to it either. If we respond with trust and obedience, he’ll teach us valuable lessons through the experience and also protect us from the damaging effects that despair can deliver.

Until God prodded him, Elijah had given up. Despair will lead us to the same place unless we trust God to show us how to use the lessons. When we do, they will propel us beyond the potentially despairing circumstances.

Rather than letting despair debilitate you, let God show you the way around and through it.

Father, thank you for giving me the strength to endure and overcome circumstances without succumbing to despair.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Crockpot Chicken and Dressing

 

Ingredients

2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread Mix (cooked)

4 Biscuits (cooked)

2 Eggs

1 Onion

2 Cans Chicken Broth or the Broth from the Chicken

3 Boneless Breasts (Boiled)

2 Tablespoons Sage

2 Tablespoons Butter

Salt/pepper

2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

 

Directions

Mix cornbread, biscuits, eggs, sage, salt/pepper, and butter in a large bowl. Set aside.

Boil chicken and onion together. Once the chicken cools, pull it apart and place it in a separate bowl.

Pour the chicken broth into the cornbread mixture and mix well. If needed, add broth from the chicken.

Grease the crockpot and add one Can of Chicken soup. 

Add half of the dressing mixture, followed by the chicken, and then the remaining dressing. 

Top with the other can of Cream of Chicken Soup.

Cook on low for three to four hours. 

If needed sooner, cook on high for one hour.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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 Woman of Faith - Melissa Henderson

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

After boarding the airplane, my husband and I searched for our seats. Passing the first class section and the people already waiting, we read the letters and numbers until we found our spots. There were three seats on our row. We had chosen the window and middle areas. As we settled and buckled our seatbelts, a woman arrived and sat next to me. We exchanged smiles. After a few minutes had passed, she spoke. “You must be a woman of faith.” Her words surprised me. How did she know?

I smiled and said, “Yes, but how did you know?” 

She pointed to my pink carry-on bag, which displayed the word FAITH in bold, embroidered letters. We both chuckled and began a wonderful conversation about God.

The woman and I shared our experiences of travel, family life, and prayer. As we waited for the flight attendant to provide instructions on the exit doors and other vital information, we continued to share about God's goodness.

Although our travel plans would take us to different states, for that brief time together on the plane, we found joy in discussing common interests and plans for the future. We never exchanged names or contact information. My husband gazed out the window and watched the clouds. I shared fellowship with a stranger who was also a woman of faith.

God knew his plan for that day. Perhaps someone across the aisle, or in front of us, or behind us, heard our conversation. Maybe that was the day someone became closer to God by hearing us share about our faith. We’ll never know why he placed two women of faith beside each other on that plane ride. But God knows.

Consider ways to share God's love so that others can have a relationship with Him. 

Melissa Henderson is an award-winning author who writes inspirational messages, sometimes humming with humor. She has authored Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. She is a contributor to many publications. Melissa is an elder, deacon, and Stephen Minister. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, Bookbub, YouTube, LinkedIn, and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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 Flower Gardens - Patricia Jordan

Then he carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. 1 Kings 6:29 NKJV

Walking through the flower gardens brings me immense joy. These are special trips to be remembered, and I notice every flower the gardeners grow.

Trips to the local nurseries, especially in the early summer, excite me as much as planning for our vacation. I have three flower beds that I sow every year: zinnias for butterflies, marigolds to keep gnats and other bugs away from our deck, and daisies and black-eyed Susans because they’re dependable. Blooming hydrangeas line the side of our house, the lavender I cut back last fall is coming back, and the bees love my hyssop. The deer can’t wait for my daylilies to bloom. I barely enjoy them before Bambi and her extensive family find them and bite off the beautiful orange flowers. 

For me, a peaceful walk around my flowers, including butterfly weed, yarrow patches, and hostas that dot our yard, is a peaceful way to start and end my day. I ensure the sand in each of the pie tins is moist enough so that butterflies and bees can drink water. I also refill the birds' water daily with clean water so they can bathe and stay hydrated.

My mother always grew something. Sometimes, it was just house plants in our rented houses. When we five kids were almost grown, my parents launched a successful business. With their profit, they built their own house on a spacious acre and a half. That’s when Mom’s green thumb really took off. My oldest brother tilled her flower and vegetable gardens, and together they planted everything. Mom’s yard was always beautiful.

In the design of Solomon’s Temple, God directed the builders to include open flowers in the interior design. The Temple flowers were carved into the paneled walls, which were made from the cedars of Lebanon. Flowers are a part of God’s plan for a beautiful area, whether it be small or large. 

When possible, practice smelling flowers daily. And plant some, too. 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for providing us with landscapes that hold so much natural beauty. And yet how much more have you provided for us than you do for the flowers. 

Patricia Jordan is a writer. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

 

 

Life’s Unexpected Turn - Martin Wiles

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14 NLT

When they got out of bed that morning, none expected life’s unexpected turn.  

The Pentagon Memorial commemorates the 184 people who were killed on American Airlines Flight 77 and inside the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Small illuminated concrete benches—representing each of the victims--are arranged so that reading a Pentagon victim’s name requires facing the Pentagon, while reading a plane victim’s name requires facing the direction the plane was traveling. 

Regardless of their ages or life circumstances, none of the victims expected terrorists to board their plane and direct it into the side of the Pentagon. Nor did those working in the Pentagon expect a plane to shatter their building.

Fog wasn't the issue that day. Terrorists were. Yet, fog can pose problems when flying. Thankfully, morning fogs generally only hang around until the sun burns them away. 

My wife and I once flew out of August, Georgia, on our way to see friends in Denver, Colorado. Our flight was delayed because of a thick layer of fog blanketing the area. Although it seemed as if we waited forever, we were only delayed one hour.

Life is like a fog. It doesn’t hang around long, and it often takes unexpected turns. Even if I’m fortunate to live into my nineties, my life is comparatively brief. What I need to do, I need to do now. 

The most important thing for anyone is to trust Christ as their Savior. But there are other things we also need to do. Deciding to trust Christ will assure us of heaven, but we may be on earth for quite some time, so other decisions affect our futures here.

When Jesus said he came to give abundant life, he wasn’t talking about life in heaven but rather life on earth. Obeying God’s commands and making serving Christ the centerpiece of our lives will usher in a type of existence that everyone searches for—but typically in the wrong places.

Spending time on endeavors that will outlast our lives makes sense. We can leave writings or spiritual journals. We can teach honorable trades or a Sunday school class. We can also leave an example that will affect our children, grandchildren, and others. But we only have a brief time to do it. Soon our lives will lift like the fog.

Decide to do something that will outlive your brief life.

Father, help me to live each day with purpose, so that when my brief life ends, I can die knowing I have served You and others well. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Ham and Potatoes

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 PACK CUBED HAM

2 1/2 POUNDS RED POTATOES

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

1 STICK BUTTER

SALT/PEPPER

 

Directions

SAUTE HAM AND ONIONS WITH 2 TABLESPOONS OF VEGETABLE OIL.

WASH AND CHOP POTATOES INTO SMALL CHUNKS.

PLACE HAM MIXTURE AND POTATOES IN AN ALUMINUM LINED PAN.

SPRINKLE WITH SALT AND PEPPER.

CUT THE BUTTER INTO CHUNKS AND PLACE ON TOP OF HAM AND POTATOES.

 

COVER WITH ALUMINUM FOIL.

BAKE AT 375°F FOR 40 TO 45 MINUTES.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Dealing with a Difficult Audience - Martin Wiles

They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says!” Ezekiel 2:4 NLT

God never promises that what He asks us to do will be easy, and it wasn’t for Dad.

Other than when I was a small child, I only knew Dad as a preacher. Living in a preacher’s home makes one privy to information that the typical church member might not know. One thing entailed getting the inside scoop on how difficult some people can be.

I recall one church my father pastored. Mom, my two brothers, and Dad loved the area and the people. It was country living at its finest. I loved it too and soon decided to move to the area. No sooner had I settled in than Dad decided to move.

Dad and the members got along well, but one thing bothered him. On the Sunday of his resignation, he said, “I’ve been here two years, and no one has ever come forward during an altar call.” In Dad’s mind, this made them a difficult audience to preach to. Perhaps the needed decisions were all made in the pew, but Dad wanted to see action.

I’ve felt Dad’s concern. Having pastored several smaller membership churches, I, too, have preached hundreds of sermons and witnessed little, if any, movement to the altar. Maybe they, too, made their decisions in the pew.

Ezekiel, however, didn’t have to label his audience as difficult to preach to. God made the judgment for him. Stubborn. Hard-hearted. But God sent him anyway.

Whatever the audience God sends us to, our responsibility is to be faithful to His call. God doesn’t hold us responsible for their decisions—whether many, few, or none at all. Or whether the decisions have been made publicly or privately. Our job is to deliver the message God gives.

Sometimes, God has to remind us that even though we don’t see the fruit, it doesn’t mean it hasn’t been produced. Seeing matters of the heart is difficult. Our job is to trust God to give us the strength to do whatever task he assigns. And he will. As he does, he’ll walk by our sides, giving guidance the entire way.

When God calls you to deliver a message to a difficult audience, remember he’ll be faithful to you if you are faithful to him.

Father, enable me to trust you to guide me and give me the strength, regardless of the audience you call me to speak to. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Keeping the Vessel Clean - Martin Wiles

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 NLT

Keeping silver clean is no easy job.

As one-time antique dealers—and as recipients of my mother’s silver--my wife and I know a little about silver. One, it’s valuable, and two, keeping it clean is challenging. Before my mother gave us her silver flatware set, she would sit for hours, shining each piece until she could see her reflection in the forks, spoons, and butter knives. Then she separated the various utensils and placed them in a plastic bag where air could not touch them. So far, we have kept them in the same zip lock bags she placed them in. We know if we expose the set to air, we’ll soon have to repeat what she did before she gave them to us.

We’ve also owned silver tea sets, which we displayed on antique buffets. When shined, they made an attractive addition to our antique furniture. But after a short period, tarnish crept over each piece. We either had to polish them and put them away or leave them out and shine them every few months. Leaving them out and tarnished wasn’t a choice. Doing so ruined the look of our décor.

God requires purity to use us. Exposing silver to air means it will turn and eventually require cleaning. Living in the world exposes us to sin, whether we want it to or not. Even monks and nuns who withdraw from everyday life and environments still face the inner pull of sin. Cleaning silver can be challenging. So can keeping ourselves pure and holy.

Maintaining purity is easier when we recognize that we possess an inner power that enables us to be successful—the Spirit of God within us. Holiness is not something we can accomplish on our own, but it is possible when we allow God to perform it in us.

Just as silver exposed to air requires regular cleaning, so does maintaining holiness. If we neglect tending to holy living, the tarnish of sin will take over. But if we spend time in spiritual disciplines and make obeying God’s commands a priority, our vessels will remain pure.

Do whatever it takes to keep your vessel clean.

Father, I depend on your Spirit’s power to help me keep my vessel pure so I can be ready to be used by you. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Submitting to the Potter - Martin Wiles

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? Romans 9:21 NLT

He was a restless individual, rarely staying at one place of employment for long.

In his younger years, one of my uncles changed jobs numerous times. I always wondered why he never stayed at one place long. When I asked my grandparents, they had no answer either. I assumed he didn’t like anyone telling him what to do. However, my uncle finally resolved the issue. He purchased his own feed and seed store. Until they retired, my aunt and uncle worked tirelessly and earned a good living in the process.

Evidently, the apostle Paul encountered some who were struggling with God’s control over them. He compares God to a potter and then reminds his readers of the similarities. Just as the potter has control over what he makes—having the ability to destroy the item and start over—so God has authority over His creation. We may think we’re doing our own thing--and we do have free will--but our thing stops where God’s sovereignty begins.

Like my uncle, I, too, have at times bucked others’ control over me. I attribute my resistance to a Type A personality, which makes me love being in control, setting the rules, and not having to answer to anyone. The trouble is, everyone has to answer to someone. Even though my uncle owned his own business and established his own rules, he was still accountable to the Internal Revenue Service and also had to abide by town and state ordinances.

God is our Potter. What makes this comforting is knowing that the person who controls us is not mean, angry, or unloving. He is a loving heavenly Father who has an excellent plan for the lives of his creations. When we submit to his plan, he will lovingly guide us to his desired end. When we mess up, either he has an alternate plan or the ability to reconstruct the mess we’ve made. He formed us in love initially, and he will continue to form us the same way throughout our lifetimes. But we must submit to his sovereign control.

Submit to the Potter’s control and be amazed by what he’ll do.

Father, I give my life to you and ask you to accomplish your will. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.

Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole

 

 

Ingredients

1 BAG FROZEN TATER TOTS

        

1 POUND GROUND BEEF

SALT/PEPPER

  1 BELL PEPPER (CHOPPED)     

1 ONION (CHOPPED)

                 2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE
                 

¼ CUP KETCHUP

 1/4 CUP WATER

                                                                    

Directions

COOK GROUND BEEF, ONIONS, AND PEPPERS. DRAIN. 

MIX WATER AND KETCHUP, AND ADD TO THE MEAT MIXTURE.

IN A 9 X 13 CASSEROLE DISH, PLACE ONE-HALF OF THE TOTS ON THE BOTTOM. 

TOP WITH MEAT MIXTURE, AND ADD ONE-FOURTH OF THE CHEESE.

ADD THE REST OF THE TOTS, AND TOP WITH REMAINING CHEESE. 

BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 25 TO 30 MINUTES.

(Photo courtesy of recipeshubs.com.)

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. 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.