Friday, April 19, 2024

Tackling Life’s Trials - Martin Wiles

tackling life's trials
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8 NLT

One took advantage of the situation; the other stepped up to the plate.

Watching a few middle schoolers traipse down the hall on crutches or with a limb in a cast isn’t unusual. In addition to the injuries, there are usually health-related issues as well. Students missing class for injuries or health concerns is typical; how they deal with it varies.

One particular year, two stood out. One had a broken limb; the other a health-related issue that kept him home for weeks. Normally, when a student has a broken limb, another student comes alongside them and carries their books. Not for this particular student. He didn’t even ask. He wrote the best he could with the hand he didn’t usually write with. Nothing was late or missing. The other student took advantage of his situation. Their responses are typical.

The psalmist confessed he would never be shaken regardless of what came his way. There was no need. The Lord was with him. The promise he held onto applies to every believer. When trials come—no matter the intensity, time, or shape—being shaken is unnecessary. But how we respond reveals much about our faith.

If we go about our business in the presence of trials as if it’s just another ordinary period—as the student with the broken limb did—our faith will change. Our spiritual walk with the Lord will mature, our faith will develop, and our dependence on God rather than ourselves will get a lift. Trials will turn us more toward God rather than others or ourselves. We’ll remember we can’t handle life on our own. We need more than friends, family, and acquaintances. We need God.

The only other choice is to do what the other student did: milk the system. We can get mad at God for allowing these circumstances into our lives and refuse to spend time with Him in prayer or any other way. We can depend too much on others at the expense of God and perhaps end up in co-dependent relationships. Or we can do nothing and have our own pity party.

Trials test our faith and form our integrity. Tackle the trials that come your way, knowing God is on your side and willing and able to help.  

Father, I thank You that Your strength is enough to enable me to conquer any trial. 

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Cast Your Cares - Martin Wiles

cast your cares
Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 NKJV

She wasn’t any good at rod-and-reel casting because she never did it. Instead, my maternal grandmother was a cane pole caster. Weather permitting, she fished every time she got a chance, but she didn’t take a rod-and-reel. She cut cane that grew in the swamps around their farmland and made her own fishing poles. 

Occasionally, when I’d fish with her, I’d take along a rod-and-reel. She’d dip her poles near the boat, and I’d cast my line into the middle of the lake. I can’t ever remember catching anything with my rod-and-reel. I knew how to cast, but I undoubtedly wasn’t casting in the right place or with the right lures.

Another type of casting has also been difficult for me. The kind the psalmist refers to—the type where I take my cares and anxieties and throw them to God. Although the Bible assures me God cares for me and doesn’t want me to be anxious over things occurring in my life, I tend let my feelings win out too many times. I forget God’s promise to sustain me.

Whatever cares I have, God has them too. If I’m His child, He’s concerned about every detail in my life. He’s even concerned about those who aren’t His children. His love reaches to all, but especially to those who’ve chosen to follow Him.

How God can handle all the cares we hold onto at any given moment is beyond understanding. But, after all, He is God. He’s the sovereign ruler of the universe. He controls, guides, and sustains. All those traits equip Him to shoulder whatever concerns us. We can only handle so much before we have a nervous breakdown, emotional burnout, or turn to substances to help us get through. But if we’ll let God handle those things, we won’t have to experience any of that.

Trying to handle our cares shows a lack of trust in God. He never tires of us casting our cares on Him. Unlike my casting, which never resulted in anything, casting on God always has results. We’ll reel in His peace, comfort, wisdom, and guidance to face whatever causes our anxiety.

Try casting God’s way. You’ll never be disappointed.

Father, I cast my cares on You, believing You are able to give me comfort and peace, regardless of my circumstances. 

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Monday, April 15, 2024

Watch the Snacks - Chrissy Wiles Harrison

watch the snacks
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NLT

I generally try to make the best decisions with the food in our house. But let’s be transparent. That doesn’t always happen.

For instance, my toddler was once a really good eater—fruit, yogurt, granola/fruit bars, meat, vegetables, etc. Recently, however, he’s discovered junk food. We will blame this on a mixture of holidays and grandparents. He wants junk for breakfast, junk for lunch, and junk for dinner. You name it. Gummies. Marshmallows. Jellybeans. Goldfish. Fruit roll-ups.

His addiction has become a daily battle—one that overflows to the older two kids. And, honestly, even to the two parents in the house, too, because, hey, when it’s right there in front of us looking so tasty, it’s what we choose. Every. Single. Time. We mumble, “One piece won’t be a big deal. Sure, you can have that. Just this one time.” Thennnn, it becomes more than once. And the battle is brutal. Have you ever fought a toddler? They are such sweet villains.

But moving on . . .

Junk food is just one example of how these sweet little people in my house like to test the limits we’ve set for them. Another is screen time—what they are allowed to watch. And their words. And the people we let them be around.

We compromise. And it has made me think about how this resembles sin. When we allow sin to hang out in front of us, we make it easier to make the wrong choice—to compromise. When we keep junk food visible, it is much easier to choose it than the healthy stuff.

Our job as parents is to protect and teach our kids while they are under our roof. To create boundaries and teach them boundaries for themselves. To help them know the difference between what is good for them and what is too much.

We must watch their eyes—our eyes. We must watch the stuff we put in front of us—food, entertainment, relationships. The list is endless. We must constantly be on guard—to show them the way, to watch the snacks.

Make a plan to watch those snacks for yourself—and for the ones you love.

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Chrissy Wiles Harrison is a homeschooling mom who shares her home with four rambunctious boys, one husband, and a small pooch—and loves every minute of it.  


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Saturday, April 13, 2024

Veggie Salad

 

veggie salad
 
Ingredients
8 ounces of macaroni noodles

8 ounces of peas and carrots drained

8 ounces of canned corn (drained)

1 small jar of pimento (drained)

1 small sweet onion (chopped)

1 small bell pepper (chopped)

1 teaspoon sugar

10 sweet pickles (chopped)

Salt and pepper

Directions
Add miracle whip and mix to taste.

Better served the next day.

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Friday, April 12, 2024

Too Fast, Too Furious - Martin Wiles

too fast too furious
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalm 37: 7 NLT

Despite his actions, I did what I always do.

Driving to the school where I teach takes about ten minutes. It would take less time, but around seven stoplights litter my path—and most of them usually catch me. One morning as I puttered along, I noticed a snazzy Range Rover behind me. It didn’t take long for the person who drove it to figure out they didn’t want to follow me, and they zoomed around.

I’ve been driving since I was fifteen and have never had a ticket. I’m not a slow driver—at least by the law’s standards—but I am by those who don’t enjoy going the speed limit, or five miles over. Which is my norm. The only time I’ve ever been stopped was when I had a pickup with oversized tires. They threw my speedometer off by five miles an hour. Fortunately, the nice highway patrolman understood and only gave me a warning. From then on, I adjusted my speed accordingly.

But back to the Range Rover. As it rocketed around me, I watched it speed off to the next stop light. As it waited for the light to turn green, I pulled up beside it and stopped. The tortoise and hare story came to mind. I wondered if the person in the Rover looked over and saw that the SUV they had shot around and left in the dust was sitting at the same light they were. Probably not. They were in a hurry, no doubt.

When the light turned green, they peeled off again. I proceeded in my normal manner. They came to the next light, which turned red just before they arrived. Once again, I pulled up beside them. I smiled to myself and again wondered whether they looked over to see who sat next to them. After the light changed, we repeated the same thing one more time. As I turned to go to my school, they sped off down the highway. They were too fast and too furious. I did what I do anytime I drive: obey the speed limit.

This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced such a scenario. I’ve learned fast cars don’t necessarily get you anywhere sooner if lights or stop signs abound. All the hurry-up does is burn more gas and take rubber off the tires. Getting in a hurry doesn’t mean we’ll accomplish more or even get somewhere sooner. In fact, if a policeman stops us for speeding, we might get there later than the person who obeys the speed limit.

But enough about driving. The psalmist didn’t have a car, and I doubt he could speed if he rode a camel or a donkey. Each of those animals seems to have a somewhat casual attitude toward moving along. The psalmist’s advice: be still and wait on God. Don’t worry about those who seem to plow ahead at breakneck speed or do evil things to get what we might desire.

Life has taught me that someone will always try to get ahead of me. Greed and selfishness drive them. People who think life is all about them and no one else are the ones the psalmist classifies as wicked. Maybe not to the degree they could be, but wicked nonetheless. But he gives good advice: don’t worry or fret about them. God has our back, not theirs.

Yet, the more important aspect is being still. Busyness often tempts us to get ahead—to speed—at other’s expense. To focus only on us, neglecting or not thinking about the needs of others. It also prevents us from hearing God’s Spirit—the person of the godhead who keeps us going at the right speed and in the right direction. The one who gives wisdom and direction. The one who keeps us from speeding from one light to the next and having to stop at each one in the process.

As bad as COVID-19 was, it forced many people to slow down. In certain fields, some had to speed up to help temper the spread, treat the sick, and produce needed supplies. But others slowed down and spent more time with friends and family—important things.

When we slow down . . . build silent times into our life’s schedule . . . we give ourselves an opportunity to hear God. And this is essential if we’re to proceed through life’s lights at the speed God wants us to travel. He has a path marked out—a path that includes a certain timing. If we peel out on our own and at our own speed, we’ll catch lights he doesn’t want us to, or we’ll arrive too late or too early. God’s plan not only includes the goal but also the steps involved to get there at the right time. The static of busyness keeps us from comprehending the plan.

Slowing down also builds our health so we can enjoy the plan—and the journey to the goal. Busyness often brings with it things that lead to poor health—such as not eating right, getting enough rest, or getting enough of the right exercise. No wonder the fast-food industry is spiking. Grabbing a takeout pizza proves much easier and faster than cooking a healthy meal at home. Although we often have no control over the schedules our employers encumber us with, we can possibly make the hard choice of choosing the employer during normal healthy economic times. Sometimes, lower pay is not a bad thing.

As we build downtime into our schedules, we have the opportunity to consider our priorities and revamp them if necessary. After all, we only have one life and a limited time to love and serve God, our families, and others.

If life has become too fast and too furious for you, stop and ask God for wisdom to revamp some things.

Father, when the hurry of life overwhelms me, show me how to slow down. 

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Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Axing Anxiety - Martin Wiles

axing anxiety
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. I Peter 5:7 NLT

“Your wife and daughter have been in a wreck.”

Frank listened to the voicemail. Anxiety crept up his throat. He and his brother had been hiking in a place with no cell phone reception. He could see he had voicemail but couldn’t listen to them. As soon as they left and reached a place where reception was possible, he dialed *86. But he wasn’t prepared for what he heard.

Two hours stretched between him and the hospital where he needed to go. All types of thoughts meandered through his mind as he drove. He attempted to place matters in God’s hands, but it didn’t seem to work. His gut wrenched, his mind raced, and his hands oozed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as he imagined. His daughter only bent her glasses, but his wife broke a foot and crushed her wrist. Frank discovered his anxiety hadn’t changed a thing. 

Peter wrote to first-century Christians who suffered miserably for their faith. He encouraged them to give their cares to God because he cared about what they faced.

Peter’s encouragement is still appropriate twenty centuries later. God cares about what happens to his children. Sure, I sometimes wonder why he allows certain things to happen if he cares so much, but that’s not for me to know. He is God; I am not. Since he is loving and kind, we can trust his heart even when we can’t see the reason behind what he does or allows.

I’ve learned being anxious won’t solve anything either. Anxiety didn’t undo the wreck Frank’s daughter and wife had. It won’t undo the effects of a natural disaster nor stymie the blows of a bully. Neither will it put money in our bank accounts for monthly bills.

In fact, anxiety impairs our judgment. An anxious mind can’t make good decisions. Anxiety will lead us to unhealthy habits in an attempt to soothe our troubled feelings or to unwise decisions in an effort to undo what has been done.

Believing God cares about what we’re facing will replace the anxiety with peace—peace that can’t be explained or understood, but peace nonetheless. When we take our needs to God, he transforms the anxiety into peace—regardless of the nature of our circumstances.

Let God teach you the art of axing anxiety.

Father, soothe my anxious moments with the assurance of your love and control. 

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Monday, April 8, 2024

A Bridge to God - Martin Wiles

a bridge to God
That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. Hebrews 4:14 NLT

Dams burst, bridges crumbled, interstates closed, and roads washed away.

October 3-4, 2015, was a historic weekend in South Carolina. A low-pressure system moving through the Southeastern section of the country tapped into moisture from a hurricane off the Eastern coast, providing the ideal setup for floodwaters not seen in one thousand years. Schools closed, emergency personnel emerged, and National Guard members went on call. Some areas received over twenty inches of rain. One member of a road repair crew was swept away in his vehicle as the bridge he crossed disappeared beneath him.

Counties and cities place bridges strategically because they need them. Transportation departments work rigorously to ensure their dependability since they cross bodies of water—some small and some not so small. Some perch only a few feet above the water they traverse while others languish hundreds of feet above the canyons they cross. Regardless of how long or high they are, their purpose is clear: to get people or goods to the other side.

Often when a bridge is out, an alternate route exists to reach a destination. Not so with God. The author maintains Jesus is our High Priest who has bridged the gap to God. Sin created the gap long ago when Adam and Eve chose to disobey the one restriction God placed upon them. Their descendants have suffered the consequences of their bad choice—all being born with a bent toward sin.

Jesus said he was the only way to God—the only bridge. Good works won’t take us across the bridge, no matter how meritorious they are. Not enough good works exist to place God under obligation to save us. Knowledge of his existence—and even his Word—won’t help us traverse the bridge either. The demons—and Satan himself—know this as well. Having affection for God doesn’t work either. And we surely can’t buy our way there.

God has designed that nothing short of faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection will enable us to bridge the gap with him. All other efforts will cause the bridge beneath us to collapse.

Make sure you are crossing a reliable bridge in your journey to God.

Father, I acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only bridge to you. 

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