Showing posts with label thrift stores. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thrift stores. Show all posts

Monday, August 19, 2024

Junking for Jewels - Martin Wiles

junking for jewels
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 NLT

We can sometimes find jewels among junk. My wife calls it “junking for jewels,” and she once did it quite often.

When possible, I tagged along. We didn’t visit junkyards or stores, but we called what we did junking because we did it among a lot of discarded stuff—stuff many termed junk. We, however, adhered to the old cliché, “One’s man trash is another man’s treasure.”

Our junking occasionally took us to yard sales but more often to thrift stores. Whenever we went to a conference or on vacation, my wife searched for thrift stores, mapped them out, and visited each one. Once we discovered our jewels, we took them home and made them look more like the treasures they once were. We placed them in the dishwasher or washing machine, splattered them with lemon oil, or tightened their loose joints with a screwdriver or hammer.

Once our jewels were cleaned and repaired, we made a decision. Some we chose to keep in our home. Most we resold, sometimes for a handsome profit. One person’s junk often helped us make ends meet.

When God gazes down from heaven, He sees discarded people littering the shelves of earth—people others have rejected, abused, and scorned. People, however, He created and loves, but many of whom have rejected Him. Sin has duped them, causing them to think they no longer need Him. Sin has led them in directions that are slowly killing them emotionally, spiritually, and physically. God, however, keeps junking.

God cleans us up when we allow Him to purchase us through repentance, forgiveness, and salvation. The blood of Christ washes us, the grace of God changes our perceived purpose, and the strength of God allows us to enjoy life once again. As God molds us into the likeness of His Son, He transforms us from junk into jewels.

God is in the business of making jewels of what many consider junk. 

Tweetable: Be one of the ones God is cleaning and restoring.

Father, thank You for Your amazing grace that makes me more than I could ever be. 

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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

When Life Gets Crowded - Solace from the Psalms - Martin Wiles


For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend. 

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Psalm 25:4 NLT
What happens when one man reluctantly agrees to thrift store shop with two ladies?
With only a week before school resumed—and wanting to spend as much time with my wife as possible—I consented to accompany her and a friend on a thrift store shopping spree. Soon, multiple boxes, a wheelbarrow, an antique radio cabinet, six couch cushions, and a green chair struggled for room in the back of our SUV. And the couch? The only place left: the roof. But at least it was secure. A young lad who happened to be an Eagle Scout tied it down with electrical cord and neckties—the only “rope” the employees could muster.
But “treasures” from thrift stores are the least of my worries when it comes to a crowded life. David must have felt the same way when he cried out for God’s guidance.
Loss of perspective usually follows a crowded life. I’ve found myself running from one event to another, juggling meetings, trying to usher the kids to their respective functions, saying yes too many times, and endeavoring to juggle work and school. Inevitably, mental, emotional, and physical issues crop up. Before long, the crowdedness zaps my energy, and I’m almost useless to anyone.
The cure is unpacking and unloading—which is what we did as soon as we returned to our respective homes. Life holds a great number of good things for me to contribute my time and talents to, but I can’t execute them all. Only God can direct me down the path to the ones He wants me to fulfill.
Are you running in too many directions and getting crowded out in the process? Let God help you unpack what doesn’t fit His plan.
Join the conversation. How do keep from running in too many directions? 
Prayer: All-knowing God, we trust You to help us uncrowd our lives when they become too cluttered for comfort.


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Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Throwback Tuesday - When Life Gets Crowded - Martin Wiles

When Life Gets Crowded

What happens when one man reluctantly agrees to thrift store shop with two ladies? 

With only a week before school resumes—and wanting to spend as much time with my wife as possible, I consented to accompany her and a friend on a thrift store shopping spree. Soon, multiple boxes, a wheelbarrow, an antique radio cabinet, six couch cushions, and a green chair struggled for room in the back of our SUV. And the couch? The only place left: the roof. But at least it was secure. A young lad who happened to be an Eagle Scout tied it down with electrical cord and neckties—the only “rope” the employees could muster. Read more...

Tweetable: Where do you turn when life gets crowded? 


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 FacebookPinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.