The Best Exercise - Martin Wiles

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

If having one would help me keep track of my health, then why not buy it? 

What initially attracted me wasn’t its sleek style or the many things it could do. It combined the functions of a watch and an alarm, and I’ve been a sucker for a watch since I was nine years old. But since my wife and I had been on a health kick, I had also been attracted to its benefits.

Fitbit is an American company known for making wireless products that track steps, heart rate, vigorous activity, sleep quality, calories, and other personal metrics. An added feature is that it syncs with my iPhone and alerts me when I have text messages, calendar notifications, and incoming calls. 

Until I was forty years of age, I could eat anything I wanted without consequence. Not so now. And as I get older, I realize I must take care of myself (and my wife) if I want to increase my chances of staying here a little longer. Because my wife has more health concerns than I do, I had no problem justifying spending the money for a Fitbit if it would help us. Eventually, however, my iPhone eliminated my need for the Fitbit. 

Paul commends physical exercise and good health. After all, God made our bodies and expects us to treat them with care. For believers, our bodies house his Spirit and are a temple. They are also living sacrifices. 

As good as physical exercise and proper eating are, spiritual exercise is better. Physical exercise is good for this life only; spiritual exercise is good for both this life and the next. In fact, without proper spiritual exercise, we won’t enjoy what the life to come offers. 

Spiritual exercise helps us enjoy the abundant life Jesus says we can have now. A life lived daily with confidence and assurance. Confidence that God loves us and has accepted us into his family. Assurance that nothing or no one can take us from his hand. A life lived without condemnation because Jesus has taken our sin. 

Spiritual exercise isn’t easy, but it’s always beneficial. We’ll never lose when we devour God’s Word, bathe in prayer, commune with other believers, love everyone unconditionally, serve others with kindness, forgive our enemies (and friends), and care for God’s world. 

Exercise physically, but don’t miss the benefits of the best exercise.

Father, give me the stamina to exercise spiritually every day. 

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing 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.

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

2 MEDIUM STALKS OF BROCCOLI

½ CUP RAISINS

1/3 CUP REAL BACON BITS

2/3 CUP MAYONNAISE

2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR

2 TABLESPOONS PURPLE ONIONS (CHOPPED)

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEESE

2 TABLESPOONS VINEGAR

Directions

CHOP BROCCOLI INTO SMALL PIECES.

ADD RAISINS, BACON, ONIONS, AND CHEESE. SET ASIDE.

IN A SEPARATE BOWL, MIX MAYONNAISE, SUGAR, VINEGAR, AND SALT/PEPPER.

 MIX WELL AND COAT THE BROCCOLI MIXTURE.

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.

Engraved by God - Martin Wiles

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16 NIV

The pages revealed to whom it belonged and under what circumstances. 

Mom received a call from her niece. They had cleaned out my aunt’s house and discovered some things that might interest Mom. Although never a lover of old or sentimental things, Mom took them. 

The items included four funeral home books for deceased relatives, newspaper clippings, family pictures, and two Bibles—both of which had my aunt’s name handwritten inside, along with the names of those who gave them to her and when. One of the two had her name engraved on the outside.  

After checking the giver’s name, I wasn’t surprised by the engraving. When I was eight years old, Mom and Dad—and I—had given my aunt the Bible for her birthday. Dad followed this pattern of engraving a name on the outside of a Bible for his entire lifetime. Every Bible he ever owned—and that was a multitude—he had his name engraved on the outside. The inside page with the handwritten name might be lost, scratched out beyond recognition, or torn out, but the name on the outside would remain. The Bible belonged to him. 

The nation of Israel needed reassurance. They had a habit of disobeying God, and God had a habit of punishing them. But better days were in store because they had repented. They would once again return to their homeland. 

Life is tough and filled with bitter disappointments. To us—just as he said to Israel—God says, “I’m engraved on his hand.” No one can steal us from His grip or erase the fact that we belong to him. Unwise decisions and sinful actions will bring his discipline, but the engraving stands. Willful, occasional sin may slightly obscure our name, but we’re still God’s children, and confession will once again bring out the brilliance of the engraving. 

And when it appears God has forsaken us, God has his ways of showing us the engraving and reminding us that we still belong to him. Our name’s engraved on his hand.  

Don’t fear life or the things it brings. Your name is engraved on the Father’s hand. He is loving, kind, gentle, and more powerful than anything the world can throw your way. 

Father, show me the engraving often so I’ll never forget to whom I belong. 

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.

Zeroing In - Anita van der Elst

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:3-4 NLT

Ever feel lost in the crowd? Though surrounded by people, are we even seen? 

A dear friend shared with me that she’d been accepted as an extra for the filming of season five of The Chosen, a popular Christian TV series set in New Testament times. How excited I was for her. 

Many years ago, she and I were involved in church theatrical productions, sometimes with speaking roles, but often just part of the background crowd, adding a sense of realism. Now, whenever I watch a movie or show, I tend to search out the scenes behind the major players.

One requirement that my friend had to fulfill was to provide her own costuming. A perusal of the tote bin of costumes I’d saved from years before revealed a couple of items that could serve as part of her wardrobe. She was happy to accept the loan of the pieces to augment her own. I told her that I would search for her in the crowd scenes when the show aired, knowing what she’d be wearing. 

The heart of Jesus longs to pick each one of us out of the crowd. Jesus looked for me, searched for me as the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to rescue the one lamb that strayed. 

Jesus zeroes in on the individual. He’s looking for you. He treasures you. Don’t hide from him. 

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 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.

Share the Load - Martin Wiles

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV

With more than two thousand miles to walk, he chose carefully what to put in his backpack.

World War II was over, and Earl Shaffer needed to walk it out of his system. He chose the Appalachian (or Government) Trail to do so. At the time, the trail began at Oglethorpe, Georgia, and extended to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Since most of the men had been away fighting in the war, the trail had fallen into disrepair, making the journey more challenging. 

Earl’s motto was “Carry as little as possible but choose that little with care.” And he did. He carried a survival tent, poncho, rain hat, knife, axe, sewing kit, snake-bite kit, cook kit, clothing, and a week’s worth of food. Even though he chose the bare minimum to put in his pack, he still felt overloaded. 

Because of Earl’s training and determination—and because he carefully chose what he carried—he became the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. 

I’ve done a little backpacking myself and know how important it is to choose my load with care. My first extended backpacking trip with my daughter revealed I hadn’t learned Earl’s wisdom. My pack weighed in at fifty pounds, and my daughter’s at thirty-five. Although we had fun, we also experienced misery because of unnecessary weight. Our loads slowed us down and taxed our backs. 

What Paul states in this verse makes common sense. Any burden shared is lighter. Jesus said the load of obeying him was easy, so if following him is causing us misery, we must be doing something wrong. 

Burdens are cumbersome when we carry the wrong things in our life’s pack. They might include bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, immorality, depression, frustration, hurt, or lies. When we carry unhealthy emotions, actions, or relationships, our souls ache. Nor does anyone want to help us bear them. 

Helping others with their loads makes the load lighter. Many people helped Earl along the way, making his journey more bearable. People who took him to get food and supplies. People who gave him a place to stay out of the inclement mountain weather. Giving others permission to hold us accountable, helping others bear their life loads, and depending on God for strength are all vital. 

Don’t try to do life alone. Share the load. 

Father, motivate me to carry others’ loads and, most of all, to depend on you for strength to do so. 

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.

Chocolate Chip Dessert

 

 

Ingredients

2 packs of Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 - 8-ounce tubs of Fat Free Cool Whip

2 Cups 1% Milk

Directions
Pour the milk into a bowl, dip each cookie in milk, and place on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.

Top the layer of cookies with Cool Whip.

Continue layering until all cookies are gone.

Top with the remaining Cool Whip.

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.

Faith over Feelings - Martin Wiles

I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. Job 23:8-9 NLT

Feelings don’t always mirror reality.

Frank had hit bottom. He couldn’t imagine losing any more than he had already lost. His roller coaster ride began with his wife’s confession of unfaithfulness. He had his suspicions, and he had noticed people at church whispering. But he trusted her and had promised to love her for better or for worse. Now, however, he knew he couldn’t trust her. She didn’t love him and wanted a divorce.

Had Frank worked a regular job, his wife’s leaving probably wouldn’t have mattered. But his profession made a difference. His personal and family life weighed heavily on the outcome like a piece of lead. When he shared his news with the church leaders, they suggested he resign. Since he and his family lived in a church-owned home, he knew what that meant. Finding a place to live. 

The confession started the dominoes tumbling. Over the next few years, Frank experienced numerous fallouts. He lost his retirement savings, withdrawing it to pay bills. He took a job making one-third of his church salary, which meant some bills went unpaid. Soon, the collection agencies would knock on his email and snail mail doors. Months later, he found himself alone after his daughter went to college and his son decided to live with his mom. 

Frank never imagined facing such dire straits, but he never forgot that God hadn’t left him. Regardless of how he felt—and he often experienced that “dark night of the soul”—his faith remained anchored in God. 

I, too, have experienced some “dark nights of the soul.” Times when God felt distant and unconcerned. Job experienced the same. He lost almost all a person could lose—and God allowed it. Satan needed proof that Job wasn’t merely following God because of God’s blessings. 

When we experience those dark nights, we must remember that God hasn’t left us. He promises never to leave or forsake us, and his character hasn’t changed. He knows all we experience and controls the intensity and duration. We can also remember his unconditional love. Allowing us to experience valleys leads to spiritual growth, not detriment. Additionally, we can recall his power. With a spoken word, he can end our cloudy days—and will, at just the right time. 

When you feel God has left you in the darkest valley, remember feelings don’t always mirror reality. 

Father, thank you for never leaving me during my dark night of the soul.

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.