Too Many Words - Martin Wiles

The talk of fools is a rod for their backs, but the words of the wise keep them out of trouble. Proverbs 14:3 NLT

Sometimes, when I think I’ve said a lot, I realize I’ve said very little.

The assignment was simple. Students were to write a short paper detailing three things they felt strongly about. When they finished, I collected the papers and re-distributed them to their peers to check for grammatical errors, redundancy, and wordiness. 

One young lady approached my desk. “Doesn’t this sentence say the same as the previous one?” she asked.

“It does,” I replied.

A short time later, she returned. “Doesn’t this sentence say the same thing, too?”

“Yes, it does,” I said again.

With a confused look and a sigh, she whispered, “But that only leaves one sentence in the entire paragraph.”

I shook my head and smiled, then gathered the class’s attention. “Class, life lesson. Sometimes, when we think we have a lot to say, we have very little.”

The student, whose paper was in question, laughed, but I was convinced.

Many are the warnings God gives throughout the Bible with outright instruction or by example about the potency of our words. Taking into consideration those warnings, and noticing that I have two ears but only one mouth, I’ve concluded it’s better to listen more than I talk. I’ll learn more, stay out of trouble, and develop healthier relationships.

The classroom exercise also reminded me of how crucial it is to choose carefully the words we write or speak. Since wordiness and redundancy are rife, we must ensure the ones we give out are worth listening to. Saying the most in the fewest words is challenging and requires forethought, but it is possible.

Since people’s attention spans are growing increasingly shorter, speaking or writing with as few words as possible is wise. Otherwise, we’ll lose those to whom we think we have something to say.

Words also reflect our character—the people we are on the inside. I have a sneaky suspicion the young student was attempting to take a shortcut. Since I require a minimum of five sentences in a paragraph, they were shooting for the goal rather than thinking about that which they felt strongly. However, a student with a watchful eye foiled their attempt.

Make sure the words you deliver are worth listening to. 

Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight—and pleasant to others.

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Mastering Godliness - Amy Dagit

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness. 1 Timothy 4:7 ESV  

One afternoon, I received an exciting email: my devotion had been chosen for publication. That night, I celebrated with my husband. We snuggled on the couch and toasted my achievement.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks, and the publisher posted my devotion on their website. I expected a few edits, but nothing I worried about. I navigated to the website and read.

My demeanor plummeted into despair. The final product gutted me. I thought the edits were heavy-handed. The editor had deleted my favorite word, and I felt my voice had been erased. I stomped upstairs, fell into bed, and cried while the voice in my mind reiterated the wrongs in the published devotion.

After drying my eyes, I walked downstairs, sat at my computer, and worked on another devotion. The Spirit quickly prodded me. I had not responded with godliness. Instead, I rejected God’s gift, grumbled rather than prayed, and  wallowed in the lies. I had forgotten my purpose was to reach others with God’s Word.

I am thankful for the Spirit’s nudge. I learned that godliness does not come easily. It requires immersion, practice, toiling, striving, setting an example, and checking ourselves.

Godliness entails our commitment to live according to God’s Word. When acting godly, we reveal God’s character to others and lead them toward eternity. And yes, others notice. But, of course, the opposite is also true. Our ungodly acts can push others away from the Father.

Think about your reaction to a situation that didn’t happen as planned. Did you respond with grumbling, take out your anger on a loved one, or believe the lies? Why not use the Bible to create a list of godly responses for unexpected situations?

Tweetable: How can you do a better job of mastering godliness? 

Amy Dagit is a writer and copyeditor from East Central Illinois. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Besides editing and writing, Amy loves to travel and photograph. Her writing has been published in The Wanderlust Within, 50 Haikus, and Inkspirations Online. She blogs about editing, writing, and travel at amydagit.com.

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The Payoff for Persistence - Martin Wiles

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 NLT

The assessment of my writing disturbed me. I didn’t agree. The payoff for persistence appeared small.

One of my goals as a writer was to get on the permanent writing list of several publications. By doing so, editors would contact me regularly and offer me contracts. But the editor of one such publication didn’t, so I contacted him for an assignment. His answer disturbed me. He had looked over my previous submissions and thought I had done a poor job of applying the assigned Bible verses.

Over time, I have learned to respect the opinions of editors—and to deal with their quirks. After all, I am an editor. But I didn’t agree with his conclusion. I had written for many publications and had never had an editor accuse me of poor biblical application. After all, I have a degree in theology and have spent years studying the Bible.

Politely, I emailed the editor back, sharing my concern—and my disagreement with his opinion. I sent him my updated bio so he could see the places I had written for, and I asked him for another chance, which he gave me. I sent in a devotion on spec, and he loved it. Then, he thanked me for pushing back . . . for being persistent. He also loved the devotions I wrote for the new assignment. My persistence paid off.

Persistence in pursuing publication with writing is difficult, but not so difficult as with more serious things in life. Jesus gave a general rule for things we are pursuing: keep asking, seeking, and knocking. This translation shows the continuous nature of the verb He used.

When we’re persistent, we develop patience—whether we know it’s happening or not. Going after something that’s not easily attainable naturally develops this worthwhile trait. Along with our journey toward patience comes the pursuit of trust. Patience and trust go hand in hand. As we patiently wait on God to answer our requests, we learn to trust His timing, which is rarely ours.

Before asking, seeking, and knocking, we must ensure what we pursue aligns with God’s will. My requests in life have often been self-directed. If my request takes me away from God’s will, plan, or principles, He won’t answer regardless of how much I seek, ask, or knock. We may disagree with God, but He always has our best interests at heart.

When our persistence finally pays off with an answered prayer, we experience joy. Joy that we’ve put in the work, joy that we’ve honed our patience, and joy that the God of the universe gets involved in our life.

If what you want or need is in God’s will, go after it with all you have, trusting God along the way.

Prayer: Father, give us the persistence to pursue those things in Your plan. 

Tweetable: How persistent are you? 

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Down in the Dust of Discouragement - Martin Wiles

I lie in the dust, completely discouraged; revive me by your word. Psalm 119:25 NLT

Rejections can put us down in the dust.

Writers know about rejection. The only way to avoid it is never to send anything out for publication.

We hear such things as “We’re sorry. We are not receiving manuscripts at this time,” or “We’d like to hold your devotional for further consideration.”

Then ten minutes later, another email arrives saying they decided not to use it after all. When rejection letters or emails come, I want to put down the pen—or, in my case, the keyboard. What’s the use? I think. No one wants to read my stuff anyway. Feelings of worthlessness can follow. Before long, I’m in the dust.

Why the psalmist was discouraged, I’m not sure. Perhaps he had witnessed the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by invading armies. Maybe, he wondered if it would ever be rebuilt or if he would ever return to his homeland. Whatever the source, he was down in the dust.

Satan loves to put believers in the dust. He’s had me there quite a few times. On one occasion, I had been out of work and sent out hundreds of resumes applying for positions in my profession, only to be rejected by every single one. I was older than those they looked for. I didn’t have the credentials they sought. I didn’t…. The reason wasn’t important. The rejections left me in the dust.

Satan knows putting us in the dust often leads to discouragement. If he can turn up the discouragement, we might give up and quit. Unhealthy emotions will take over, and before we know it, we’re depressed or feeling worthless. No initiative left. Dreams dashed. Goals evaporated. In the dust and useless.

God never intends for us to grovel in the dust, unless to repent. He wants us to know we can do all things through Him because He gives us strength. He wants us to learn contentment in every situation by realizing He’s in control.

Whatever you’re facing, God is all you need to get through. Trust God to lift you out of your down-in-the-dust episode.

Prayer: Father, thank You for lifting us up when we are in the dust. 

Tweetable: Are you down in the dust and can't get up? 

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Meandering Monday - When God Writes - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Meandering Monday, where we take a trip back to an earlier post and enjoy it again.

I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. Hebrews 8:10 NLT

Having something written on paper is one thing; having it written on my heart is quite another.

My father was a writer, but to my knowledge, he never had anything published. He wrote, nonetheless. For almost fifty years, he preached. Three times each week, he delivered sermons to his congregations, and three times every week he took pen and paper and wrote the words he planned to say.

His spiral-bound books of sermons—along with the many loose-leaf ones he composed—are now snuggly tucked away in my possession. As time progresses, the pages will yellow, and the ink will fade. Eventually, the words may become illegible, but his words will remain as long as I do. For most of those fifty years, I listened to his sermons. His words are written in my heart.

God gave his original words to his people on stone tablets. His commands were clearly visible for them to view. Having them written on stone, however, carried no weight in matters of obedience just as my father’s sermons couldn’t force anyone to obey his pleadings. A greater force was needed. Under the New Covenant Jesus established, words are no longer written on paper but on the heart.

God has placed his laws in my mind and written them on my heart. No one has to tell me what they are; my conscience clues me in. Now that I have them on my heart, they aren’t cumbersome to obey. Rather, I willingly and enjoyably obey his demands and plans for my life.

If every Bible and religious book in the world were destroyed, God’s word would remain in the hearts of his people. He has engraved it there. Enemies nor time nor torrential elements can remove it from where it’s embedded. What was once a set of external rules is now internal—a set of commands the Holy Spirit continually reminds us of and encourages us to obey.

How are you reacting to the laws God has written on your heart?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for placing Your word in our hearts where it is always safe and available. 

Twitter: What has God written to you? 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Never Forgotten - Martin Wiles

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. 

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers. Hebrews 6:10 NLT

As an aspiring writer, I attended my first writer’s conference, sponsored by an organization for which I had been writing devotions.

Here’s my chance to hobnob with those who have pull in the writing world, I thought. I had been writing for several years and had always told myself I was doing this for God. Yet in the silence of some moments, I wondered if that was true. Could I accept it if I were never published? Goodness knows, I had received my share of rejection notices.

I quickly discovered the writing world was a dog-eat-dog world. One of the break-out sessions I chose was hosted by the co-founder and editor of the organization sponsoring the conference. Imagine my discouragement when he stood before the group and told us how much it costs a publishing company to publish a book and what our chances were for getting published.

It was decision time. With the bare facts before me, would I keep writing even if I was overlooked by everyone in the publishing world? Would it be enough to be rewarded only by God and never anyone else?

I was convicted. Jesus often cautioned the religious authorities about doing what they did for recognition. Rather, he—like the present writer--investigated my motivation. The effects of my writing—and anything else I do for God—will be quickly forgotten if I do it for praise from others. But if my service to God, in whatever form it takes, is done so others may see my good works and glorify the Father, then the effects will linger long after my eyes have closed in death.

Though we may face rejection and disappointment while on earth, God will never overlook what we do for him when it’s done with the right spirit.

Let the assurance of God’s love and recognition bolster you when you feel forgotten.

Prayer: Eternal God and Father, thank You for comforting us in those times when we feel overlooked and forgotten. 

Tweetable: Do you ever feel forgotten? 

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Walk-on Wednesday - Just like Me - Martin Wiles

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. 

Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us…so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 NLT

Imagine my surprise when I received a response that said: “You have the same name as my husband.”

The reader who read my devotion saw her husband’s name at the end, but the place of residence didn’t match. That’s because it wasn’t her husband; it was me. He was in Canada; I was in the United States. Through this coincidence, we established a relationship. But even though we shared the same name, we shared little else. He was older, and so were his children. We didn’t look the same, and I had no record of him in my genealogical records. He had great-grandchildren; I only had grandchildren. 

Jesus, on the other hand, was made just like me. He took on human flesh and experienced the same things I experience: hunger, thirst, tiredness, betrayal, abuse, hardships, misunderstandings, rejection, financial deprivation, anger, temptation, grief. The only way he could take me to the Father was to become like me in every respect—except for my sin.

Through Christ, God created everything, but only by becoming like me could he truly understand me. Since he has experienced similar life experiences, Jesus can identify with what I face along life’s journey. The ups and downs, the mountains and the valleys, the temptations and the triumphs. Having experienced how cruel this world can be, he can show me the mercy I so often need. Life’s knockdowns are numerous, but Christ’s grace and mercy are abundant enough to get me through them all.

The greatest advantage, however, of Christ becoming like me was fashioned at the cross. Through his death, he took away my condemnation. Though he wasn’t sinful, he took my sin so I could go free. By faith, my sins are forgiven and no longer charged to my account.

Have you thanked Christ lately for becoming just like you?

Prayer: Eternal God, we thank You for the love that motivated You to allow Your Son to become like us and procure our salvation. 

Tweetable: Are you becoming like Christ? 

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Throwback Tuesday - When I Don’t Ask - Martin Wiles

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Joshua 9:14 NLT

He who doesn’t ask may very well not receive.

As a budding writer, I wanted to attend a writer’s conference sponsored by the person who had given me my first true opportunity to be published. The cost of the conference was reasonable, but my funds were scarce. I expressed my desire to the editor and host, and she graciously told me about a well-known author who granted a limited number of scholarships to conference attendees who had the desire but not the money. I filled out the required scholarship request and was granted the money. Had I not asked, I would have remained home and lost the opportunity to attend meetings that honed my writing skills.

I can ask for money, time, directions, advice, pity, and a slew of other things, but if I don’t ask for God’s guidance I’m doomed from the start. Joshua didn’t and was. He had two major victories under his belt, but terrified deceivers had slipped into the camp and requested friendship. The Israelites didn’t question their story or consult God. Sadly, they belonged to a group God had instructed the Israelites to destroy lest they infect his people with sinful lifestyles.

Not asking God’s guidance sets me up for failure. I may succeed according to someone else’s standards, but I won’t by God’s. When I launch into life without consulting God, I also demonstrate selfishness. Life becomes about me rather than him and others. My priorities and goals become jumbled. By default, leaving God out of my decisions reveals an underlying belief that he may not even care about what I’m facing presently or in the future. Satan’s temptations then become more tantalizing.

The treasury of heaven’s blessings is mine for the taking—but only if I ask for God’s guidance. Seeking his advice in all matters means I’ll more often than not experience his best. By regularly consulting him, I’ll begin to see life’s events from his perspective rather than my own. Are you checking with God about your daily affairs?

Prayer: God of mercy and love, prompt us to consult You about every decision we make—major or minor.

Tell us about a time when God has answered your prayer. 

Tweetable: What haven't you asked for? 

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Gifted to Go - Martin Wiles

Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:2-3 NLT

He wanted to sign his name…but couldn’t.

As the end of the school year approached, I taught students how to write a few types of letters they would need at some time in their lives: business, cover, query, friendly. I explained the format and showed them examples on the overhead and in their books.

All went well—until we got to the end. I instructed them to print their name at the end, but to leave a couple of spaces between it and their closing for their signature.

One of my more astute students raised his hand and said, “I don’t know how to write in cursive.”

No one laughed because some of them didn’t know how to either. While we teach cursive writing at our school, not all schools do, and some students who have been homeschooled don’t learn it either. 

Knowing that even in our techy world students still needed to know how to sign their names, I walked over to the whiteboard and wrote the student’s name in cursive. I gave him one thing he needed to succeed in life.

God did the same for Bezalel. He was one of the individuals God gifted to help build the elements the Tabernacle would house. This tent preceded the Temple, later built by Solomon, but contained the same items. Since this building represented God’s presence with the people, it needed to be built with care and reverence. So, God gifted those He charged with building and furnishing it.

God does the same for His followers today. In several places, the Bible lists spiritual gifts that God gives His children. We all have at least one—and many have more than one. It’s even possible that the lists are not exhaustive.

Regardless of our gift(s), God’s design is for us to use them. If we don’t, He’ll likely take them away and bless someone else with them. When we use them, we help fulfill the overall purpose for existence—to build His Kingdom—and we accomplish temporary goals God assigns during our life’s journey.

Once we discover our gifts, we should ask God for opportunities to use them. A part of the asking is putting ourselves in a place that would be a likely area for God to use us. Asking God to give me a teaching opportunity, but not attending church, wouldn’t make much sense.

Life is better when we use our gifts in service to God and others. Go with what God has gifted you with.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gifts. Give us opportunities to use them.

Tweetable: Are you using your gifts? 

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Author Interview with Susan Mathis

Today, Love Lines from God welcomes author, Susan Mathis. 

After a career in writing nonfiction, I hear you’ve settled into writing only historical fiction. What is your most difficult writing obstacle?

Transitioning from writing nonfiction to historical fiction was a huge leap but a wonderful discovery in finding my sweet spot. I studied fiction writing for about two years before launching out in this wonderful journey. I read books about the craft, went to writing conferences, and learned from mentors, critique groups, and more, and I’m thrilled to dedicate the rest of my writing career to this genre. Now I have five published historical fiction books on the market and am working on another for the end of the year.

Why do you write what you do and where do your ideas come from?

I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands. In fact, my husband and I visit the Thousand Islands region in upstate NY every summer. It’s a beautiful, largely unknown piece of the world where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario. There are nearly 1800 islands there, including the largest, Wolfe Island, which is in Ontario, Canada. 

I chose the Gilded Age because that’s when the playground of the rich and famous took off—1872 until about 1910. The Bournes were one of the Gilded Age titan families from New York city whose “hunting lodge” called The Towers was built on Dark Island. Intrigue, mystery, and beauty surround this Thousand Islands Gilded Age story.

All summer long, tourists enjoy cruising around the Thousand Islands, passing by Pullman Island (the setting of my first novel, Katelyn’s Choice), and hearing the stories of yesteryear. As a historic landmark, these islands are invaluable, and so are the stories that go with it. 

What kind of research did you have to do?

Ah, how I love research, and I love to be accurate. Besides combing through volumes of information, there’s nothing like being there on the island. The owner of the island has had us over to visit the island twice now. He’s toured us around and let us roam at will to get the “feel” of being there. My sweet hubby took hundreds of photos that jog my memory as I write.

I’m also super blessed because my historical editor is the president of the Thousand Islands Historical Association and has written several nonfiction books about the island. She’s awesome and has gone through each of my manuscripts with a fine-tooth comb. When I mistakenly have my character take a left instead of a right to get to the kitchen, she faithfully corrects me. 

What is the hardest thing about the creative process of writing? 

Sleeping. I lie in bed and think about the next scene, the next chapter, and the next book until I have to get up and write it down.

What are the challenges you believe Christian writers face now and in the future? 

Being salt and light in this ever politically-correct and darkening world without beating readers over the head with the truth. We need to season our writing with love and truth, but also make it palatable for not just the choir. 

If you would, please tell us what was the hardest thing about writing your last book? And how long does it typically take you to finish your books?

It takes me less than six months to write a full-length novel—three to four months for a novella. I guess the hardest thing was knowing how much detail to add to my story. There was so much interesting information I could’ve added, but that’s where my wonderful editor helped me slice and dice it to perfection.

Name your three biggest frustrations about the writing business.

Spending so much time marketing, low return on investment (few authors get paid what they deserve) and Amazon gobbling up so much of the marketplace. 

On the flip side, what excites you the most about the creative process?

Dreaming up the story! The characters. The scenes. The plot. And taking real historical figures and places and integrating them into a story that shows what it was like back then. My imagination really is my playground.

Tell us a little about Devyn’s Dilemma.

Longing for love, can she escape the shadows that follow her to Dark Island?

1910, Thousand Islands, New York. Others may consider The Towers castle on Dark Island an enchanting summer retreat, but to Devyn McKenna, it’s a prison. Yet as she works as a maid for Frederick Bourne, former president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, her life blossoms under the kindness of his family and fascinating entrepreneurs such as J.P. Morgan, Thomas Lipton, and Captain Vanderbilt. But more than anything, the growing friendship of Mr. Bourne’s valet, Brice McBride, begins to pry away the painful layers that conceal Devyn’s heart. 

Brice is drawn to the mysterious Devyn even though he’s certain she’s hiding a secret, one far more dangerous than the clues they find in The Towers that hint of a treasure on the island. When Devyn is accused of stealing Bourne’s investment in Vanderbilt’s New York City subway expansion, he might not be able to protect her. 

Can you give us your social links so others can follow you? 

Website: www.SusanGMathis.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susangmathis

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6044608.Susan_G_Mathis

And can you give us the buy links for you newest book?

Lighthouse Publishing: https://shoplpc.com/devyns-dilemma

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Devyns-Dilemma-Thousand-Islands-Gilded/dp/1645262731  

Susan G Mathis is an award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Her first two books of The Thousand Islands Gilded Age series, Devyn’s Dilemma and Katelyn’s Choice are available now, and she’s working on book three. The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, and Sara’s Surprise are also available. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com for more.


Susan is also a published author of two premarital books with her husband, Dale, two children's picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs, enjoys traveling globally with her wonderful husband, and relishes each time she gets to see or Skype with her four granddaughters.


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