Throwback Tuesday - The Power of Replacement - Martin Wiles

The Power of Replacement

While some things can be replaced, others can’t.

“I suggest you get replacement value insurance on your household items.” It was a suggestion from our insurance agent. My wife and I owned quite a few antiques. No more was being produced. And some perhaps were one of a kind. And while this type of insurance wouldn’t solve that problem, it would give us sufficient reimbursement to purchase another similar piece. We took his advice. Read more...

Tweetable: What are you replacing bad thoughts with?

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Changing the Mind - Martin Wiles

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you. Romans 12:2 NLT

Doing so may be a woman’s prerogative, but for me, it means bumped shins and stumped toes.

Moving furniture around is one of my wife’s favorite activities. It once was mine too. Before I got older and developed an aching back. Not that I detest changing things; I merely get accustomed to their arrangement and see no need for change. For me, buying a small piece of furniture doesn’t mean we have to move everything around in every room to accommodate it. Not so with my wife.

When furniture moves, I’m more apt to hurt myself. Stumping a toe accompanies a nighttime trip to the bathroom. A chair has moved. Or if not the toe, my shin. Until I get accustomed to the new arrangement, accidents happen. I have to re-orient my mind so even when I’m half asleep I think about the new order of things.

Paul challenges believers to renew their minds—and with good reasons. Danger lurks when we don’t. Renewing involves change, but this change is for my benefit.

To see the need to change my mind, I have to acknowledge it needs changing. Since Paul instructs me not to copy the customs and behavior of the world system, he must know I’m prone to do that. And I am because of inherent sinful nature and because of the fleshly nature, I retain even after letting Christ into my life.

Renewing my mind means reorienting it to think as God thinks. He ruminates on things that are good, righteous, holy, kind, loving, joyful, peaceful, and faithful. My normal thinking leads me away from such thoughts. Renewing my mind through Bible study, meditation, prayer, and accountability with other believers keeps me thinking properly.

My wife never seems to finish rearranging furniture, and I can’t ever cease renewing my mind. Since what I think leads to actions, I must renew my mind frequently so my daily actions match who I am in Christ: a new creation with new wants, desires, and emotions.

I suppose as long as my wife can move—or at least tell me too—we’ll move furniture. She’ll never know satisfaction with one particular arrangement. Nor should I when it comes to changing my mind.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Doing so will always keep you in tune with God’s will.

Tweetable: Are you letting God change your mind?

Prayer: Father, guide us to renew our minds daily so we never miss Your best for us or walk onto sinful paths. 

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A Change of Mind - Martin Wiles

And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. Luke 13:3 NLT

Changing her mind is a woman’s prerogative.

I’ve heard the saying and experienced its truth. One of my wife’s favorite things to change her mind about is our furniture arrangement. About the time I get accustomed to things a certain way, I find them completely altered. Sometimes, she will ask, “What do you think about putting this over there?” She’s only being polite. My opinion doesn’t really count. As she often reminds me, “Most men don’t get a say so in how the home is decorated.”

The most recent redo came when we purchased new recliners. I’m not sure why, but these two new pieces necessitated a total arrangement of our den, including selling one chair, a wooden bench, and our loveseat. I’ve learned to live with her changes of mind, even though it sometimes results in a stumped toe or bruised knee. Expressing my comments does little good.

Jesus talked about a change of mind—as did many spiritual teachers who preceded Him and followed Him. He called it repentance. Failure to do so would result in death, but not just physical death. That would come, but the greater death would be spiritual.

Talking about repentance involves speaking about sin—a subject we tend to water down or dismiss entirely. Defined, sin is breaking God’s moral laws. Doing so results in a disconnect between me and God, a disconnect that can only be repaired through repentance.

Repentance is recognizing I’ve offended God, expressing genuine sorrow, and going in the opposite direction towards obedience. I must do it to establish a relationship with Him initially, and I must continue to do it thereafter to maintain a healthy fellowship with Him.

What I think of sin doesn’t matter. Only what God says about it. If I doubt His conclusions—or choose to ignore them, I’ll have to pay the consequences. Consequences that include an eternal separation in a place I don’t like to think about: hell.

But God has better plans. He created humans and desires we have a wonderful relationship with Him. He wants none to perish but all to come to know Him through repentance of their sins. He won’t force His will on us but rather gives us freedom of choice. And once we’re in His family, He doesn’t change His mind and kick us out.

As long as you have breath in your body, it’s not too late to repent.

Tweetable: What do you need to change your mind about?

Prayer: Father, draw us to You and away from our sins. 

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Flashback Friday - Deceiving Appearances - Martin Wiles

Deceiving Appearances

Currently, pieces of it are hot sellers, but it’s not always what it appears. 

Distressed furniture has paint missing in spots making it appear to don a leopard skin coat. Yet distressed furniture isn’t always what it proposes to be. It could actually be an old piece of furniture with paint leaving the surface because it’s worn out its welcome. But it could be a newer piece of furniture made to look old-and much of it is. All that’s required is a fresh coat of paint, a sander, varnish, and a little imagination. Read more...

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