Turning Away - Caroline Hales

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. Romans 12:19a NIV

My freshly cut lawn looked immaculate.

The grass boasted a deep green healthy appearance with a uniform blade height, except in one spot. The corner of the lawn, next to the asphalt driveway and roadside curb of our narrow street, had a deep, muddy tire track. My anger grew like a roaring fire each time I saw the cause. My busy neighbor across the road, who had no time to introduce himself, would back his pickup truck out of his driveway and into my driveway to get out. As he backed up, he would steer the truck right over the corner of the lawn as he maneuvered into the street.

The annoyance of continual damage resulted in my desire for vengeance. At one time, I thought if I made a board with nails for the truck to drive over, the situation might go away. I did not place a row of nails on my lawn. It could have made the situation worse. The truth is, retaliation does not demonstrate love for our neighbors. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.

God will one day rightly judge the acts of other people. We may not see immediate results from our prayers, but we can trust God will one day right all wrongs. God wants us to love others today.

Through much prayer and reading my Bible, I slowly developed more patience and love toward my neighbor. As I saw the truck back up, I would take a deep breath and turn away from looking at the unimportant small bare patch of lawn. God changed me. And one day a couple of years later, my neighbor moved.

Ask God to help you love your neighbors by turning away from unimportant irritants.

Tweetable: Is revenge eating at you? 

Caroline Hales is a Project Manager, a student at Dallas Theological Seminary, and a freelance writer. She has an adorable niece in California who teeters as she toddles. Caroline’s passion to share Christ with others has grown while she has served in church ministry, leading evangelism and women’s ministry. She lives in Ontario, Canada.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

How to Grow Your Nose - Martin Wiles

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty. Proverbs 16:32 NKJV

Had I created mine, I would have shortened the length and made it narrower.

The nose is an interesting part of the body’s anatomy. I’ve heard it continues to grow as a person ages. And I have seen a number of elderly senior adults with noses that have apparently followed the norm.

As a child, I smelled everything before I ate it. I suppose I thought if it smelled bad it would taste the same way. Not always true. Since smell is one of the most powerful memory tools, I’m glad—although sometimes sad, that I have a sense of smell. Certain aromas can resurrect things I’ve not thought about in years—or even remembered that I remember.

Growing my nose longer has never entered my mind—but perhaps it should. The Hebrew word used for anger in the Old Testament means “nostril” or “nose.” According to Hebrew psychology, the nose was the beginning point of anger. One who was slow to anger was long of nose.

An interesting twist on this piece of my anatomy. So interesting that I might indeed wish my nose would continue to grow. Anger is one of those God-created emotions that almost everyone struggles with. The emotion itself is neutral but rarely is it ever expressed in the same fashion. Hurt, fear, and frustration resurrect it, and the temptation is to manifest it in ways that will hurt others.

Being slow to anger is an art only God can help me with. I may have genetic overtones or have lived through environmental situations that make it easier for me to express my anger in unhealthy ways, but neither excuse the responsibility for my actions. “I can’t help it” won’t cut the mustard with God. Strength comes from learning to control the emotion.

I can grow my nose by temporarily or permanently stepping away from an explosive situation, by being prayed up ahead of time, by being familiar with what the Bible says about anger, by learning to think before I act, by depending on God’s Spirit to help me do what I might not ordinarily do, and by looking for beneficial ways to express my anger.

Don’t be ashamed of a long nose. It means you’re mastering the anger button.

Prayer: Father, help us to express our anger emotion in ways that please You and benefit others. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Flashback Friday - Martin Wiles

Sensitized to Suffering

Johnny was born with Down Syndrome, but his own suffering didn’t prevent him from being sensitive to other’s needs.

Johnny was 19 and working as a bag boy when his company conducted a customer service training program. Their goal was that customers remember the service as outstanding…beyond the norm…service that stood out. Though merely a bag boy, Johnny invented a plan he thought might work. As a lover of inspirational quotes, he decided he’d deposit one in each customer’s bag and say, “Thanks for shopping with us today. I’ve placed an inspirational thought in your bag that I hope you’ll enjoy.” Read more...

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Identifying With Christ

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in The Cost of Discipleship, said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” And he did.

Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian who resisted Nazi dictatorship, opposed Hitler’s euthanasia program and his persecution of the Jewish people, and even joined the German Military Intelligence Office in their plans to assassinate Hitler. The Gestapo arrested him in April of 1943 and hung him two years later, just 23 days before Hitler surrendered. Bonhoeffer stood for his faith, suffered for his faith, and ultimately died for his faith. Read more...

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Gentle as… - Martin Wiles

You must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 NLT

While growing up, it was one of the main attractions to come to any town.

Who doesn’t love a circus? Clowns weave smiles on people’s faces, and trapeze artists steal the breath of onlookers. Crowds hold their breath and tongues as lion tamers enter cages with beasts capable of tearing them to shreds. Laughter breaks out as dogs of all sizes leap through hoops or monkeys travel horses’ backs. 

But the staple of any circus is the elephant. Powerful beasts that tower over their trainers but that gently obey every command. I’ve seen them shackled with a mere rope around one ankle as they await their time to perform. While performing, they clutch their trainers in their mouths, balance on one front or rear foot, or hoist the trainer onto their backs. Elephants are the epitome of gentleness—power under control. With one rampage, they could demolish the circus tent and everyone in it. 

Of all the traits believers are instructed to display, gentleness is perhaps one of the most difficult. Paul echoes what Jesus says in the beatitudes, God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them (Matthew 5:5).

Gentleness entails submitting to God’s plan for me, my family, my church, and the world—but particularly me. God makes it possible for us to recognize His individual plan. His overarching plan involves allowing Him to develop us into His Son’s image. But it goes deeper. He has a personal plan for each of His followers. Through prayer, study of His Word, and earnest investigation, He’ll make it known to those who seek it.

Gentleness means having a teachable spirit. God doesn’t often teach me lessons the way I might enjoy learning them. My most important lessons have come through circumstances I’d rather not repeat. God tends to tutor by bringing situations into our lives where we have no other option but to trust and depend on Him. God teaches through circumstances that try our souls. 

Gentleness also requires consideration of others. It’s easy for life to be about me; it’s more difficult to make it about others. Jesus’ entire ministry was about others, and ours should be as well. 

What are you as gentle as? Jesus can teach you to be as gentle as He was. 

Prayer: Father, help us be as gentle with others as You are with us. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

Revenge’s Dead End

He and I were good friends, but now I was getting the cold shoulder.

In spite of our age difference, Ray* and I clicked. He planted my garden, helped me pick up trash along the road, visited with me, and was an all-around good friend. Until I made my cardinal mistake. His sister died, and I wasn’t there for him. I had no excuse; I was busy, stressed, and in selfish mode. My apology was met with a scowl and a gruff, “It’s a little late now.” Not, “It’s okay. I forgive you. We all make mistakes.” Just, “It’s too late.” As a result of his stubbornness, I had a few vengeful thoughts toward him. Read more...

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.