Love Lines from God

Keep Your Lamp Burning – Kristen Whiteley

2026-06-10T04:00:00.000-04:00

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning. Luke 12:35 NIV

The words haunted my soul in a deep-down, glorious way. Who shall abide the day of his coming? As I listened to this particular aria from Handel’s Messiah, the operatic refrain echoed through my mind and heart. I suddenly wondered, as I folded laundry, if I was ready for the Lord’s coming? If he sundered the sky right now with otherworldly light, would I be overjoyed? Frightened? Heavy-hearted or grieved at all about how I have spent my time?

The words of Luke sprang into my epochal thoughts: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” I think of an Old Testament Israelite priest dressed in fine linen and bearing the costly stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel on his breastplate, continually interceding for the people, bearing up the ones whom he wore over his heart. He dressed for service. He also had to keep the lamp in the Tent of Meeting always burning. The sign of God’s presence in the fire would never be distinguished as long as the priest fulfilled his service.

Eschatology has a time and place, but the simple command of the Lord tugs more persuasively at my heart. As an ambassador of Christ, how am I serving the Lord and his people? Is my lamp ever-burning for Jesus? Are my words a sign that his Presence indwells me? Are my actions proof?

I think those who shall abide his coming are the ones who remain faithful to the end, dressed for service, ready for action, watchful, hearts aflame.

When we get up in the morning, even as we dress for the day, let us dress ourselves for service, ready for whatever God might have us do.

Lord God, may we who proclaim your name keep our lamps burning, that we may be ready for your coming. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Kristen Whiteley agrees with her father that poetry is a way of seeing the world. In between discipling three young children and home-keeping, she leads worship and writes as a way to process her ponderings. Kristen is passionate about creation, the cross, community, classic literature, and homesteading.

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Investments with Guaranteed Returns - Martin Wiles

2026-06-08T04:00:00.000-04:00

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19 NLT

He thought I earned big bucks, but his smile turned to confusion when I told him I made nothing.

Prior to our Sunday evening service, I talked with one of our sound technicians who had recently returned to college. Knowing I had taught grammar, he wanted to share a website he had discovered that improved his writing.

In our conversation, I mentioned I was the Managing Editor for a popular devotional website. As I described my responsibilities, he said, “That must pay pretty well.”

I returned his smile and said, “Here’s how much it pays,” and formed a zero with my fingers.

His confused look told me he didn’t understand. So, I explained. I love editing and grammar. I also love investing in the lives of other authors, sharing the benefit of my knowledge and training with them. As many editors have helped me, so I want to assist others. Their work—which will be posted on websites and in journals, books, and newspapers—will outlast me.

Jesus doesn’t say having possessions is wrong, but he warns they can steal our focus from more important things. Things don’t last, and things can turn our focus from spiritual pursuits. We live in a throwaway age where stuff lasts less time than it once did. Rather than focusing on holding on to earthly playthings, Jesus says we need to store our belongings in heaven. But how?

As I post my own devotions online and assist other authors in doing the same, I’m making an eternal investment that will outlive me. Long after I’m dead, my words for the Lord will circulate and continue to influence people’s lives.

I store treasures in heaven through spiritual disciplines. As I pray, read God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, share my faith, and use my spiritual gifts, I send rewards ahead to my eternal home.

Storing treasure in heaven also takes place every time I do anything that will outlast me. When I invest my spiritual heritage in my children and grandchildren, I store treasure in heaven. Hopefully, they will follow my example long after I’m gone. When I mentor a younger person in their spiritual journey, I send treasures to heaven. They too will outlive me and carry on the faith.

Heavenly investments won’t rust, break down, or be stolen. Invest in eternity, not earth.

Father, guide me to those pursuits that will send treasures to my heavenly home with you.

Taco Salad

2026-06-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

1 POUND GROUND BEEF

1 HEAD LETTUCE

2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEESE

2 TOMATOES (DICED)

1 SMALL BOTTLE CATALINA DRESSING

1 LARGE BAG DORITOS

1 ENVELOPE TACO SEASONING

Directions

COOK GROUND BEEF AND DRAIN.

ADD TACO SEASONING AND COOK AS DIRECTED. SET ASIDE.

CHOP LETTUCE AND PLACE IN A LARGE BOWL.

ADD TOMATOES, CHEESE, AND MEAT. MIX TOGETHER.

ADD CATALINA DRESSING AND COVER THOROUGHLY.

WHEN READY TO SERVE, CRUSH LARGE BAG OF DORITOS AND MIX IN THE SALAD.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

What a Walk - Martin Wiles

2026-06-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:24 NKJV

He was the first to do what I longed to do . . . but probably never would. And what a walk it was.

In his book, Walking with Spring, Earl Shaffer details his account of being the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail—a footpath extending more than 2,000 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. The new trail was a mess and not as well attended as it is today. Nor did he have the modern equipment available presently.

I once dreamed of taking a walk like Earl. Taking six months off from work and living in the wilderness, enjoying God’s creation. Although I’ve hiked numerous sections of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Virginia, I’ve never hiked the entire trail. Now, age and health concerns would prevent me from doing so.

Enoch took a walk of a different variety. A walk with God. And when his time came to leave this earth, God just took him. He didn’t have to pass through the scary experience of death. He merely disappeared into God’s hands and entered heaven.

To take a walk with God means going in the same direction as he does. God is characterized by holiness and righteousness. Walking with him means we must pursue the same traits. While we can’t be purely holy and righteous in practice as he is, we can be in position by accepting what he allowed his Son to do on Calvary’s cross: pay for our sins. When we accept that act, Jesus’ righteousness—which was as pure as God the Father’s—is applied to our lives.

Walking with God is often taxing, as it was for Earl Schaffer as he maneuvered a rough and unkempt trail. But God promises to walk with us and give us the power to make it through the rough spots.

Taking a walk with God requires obedience. Jesus says if we love him, we will obey his commands. Doing so isn’t always easy, but he will give us strength to do that as well.

When we walk with God, we can also expect rewards. God gives us the desire to serve him, the power to obey his commands, and then rewards us for his accomplishments through us. The assurance of his presence and love now and throughout eternity keeps us taking another step.

Walking is good exercise. Take a daily walk with God and reap the benefits.

Father, thank you for the privilege of walking with you.

A Collision of Raindrops and Sunshine - Anita van der Elst

2026-06-03T04:00:00.000-04:00

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. Genesis 9:16 ESV

As my husband and I drove out of a nearby hillside neighborhood, we saw it in the distance. The unmistakable arcs and colors of a double rainbow. But not a surprise to see since a sudden rain shower had come while the sun shone brightly at the same time. A collision of raindrops and sunshine.

I wanted to capture a picture of it on my phone, but the foliage was too thick, so down the hill we went, chasing those rainbows. The result was a lovely image of two rainbows, one slightly fainter in vibrance, shining against a dark blue sky.

Reading this promise from God, it occurs to me that when I see the rainbow, he and I are seeing it at the same time, an activity we do together. We are in relationship. The rainbow draws my attention to him.

God promised never to send another flood to punish wrongdoing. However, our sins remain a barrier between God and us. In paying for our sins by dying on the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to be in relationship with God. We are forgiven and washed clean. In rising again, Jesus defeated death forever. A collision of justice and grace.

Now, instead of seeing my sins, God sees me through Jesus. The light of Jesus shines from my heart, and because of Jesus, God promises eternal life in heaven with him forever.

Make sure you have entered into that relationship with God through trusting in Jesus.

Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study.

Toys in the Tub - Martin Wiles

2026-06-01T04:00:00.000-04:00

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 2 Samuel 11:2 NLT

Baths may clean us up, but sometimes toys in the tub get us into trouble.

Resting outside the bathtub in our spare bathroom is a plastic container with numerous bath toys: a rubber duck, a sailing boat, several balls, a bar of Ivory soap, and cars. The normal toys kids play with when they bathe.

And when they were young, all our grandboys loved to play with them when they bathed. They loved the bubbles MeMe put in the tub. They hid the toys under the bubbles, then held them in the air and watched as the water squirted out, hollering and laughing. Occasionally, they splashed water on the floor, which drew a sharp rebuke from MeMe.

King David also knew a little about bathing and getting into trouble. He wasn’t the one bathing. Bathsheba was, but he was the one who looked when he shouldn’t have. The play on words is interesting: Bathsheba bathing. Some suggest she bathed here on purpose because she knew the king’s practice of walking on his roof. Whether or not she intentionally provided the temptation, David fell into the traps of lust, adultery, lying, and murder. One year—and several consequences—passed before he finally confessed.

Our world is filled with play toys—not that we bathe with but that we encounter daily. Technological gadgets, possessions of all sorts, hobbies—and the things we need to enjoy them—sporting activities—and the money we can spend watching them—movies, video games. The list of play toys available to those who live in developed countries is endless.

Some of the play toys are sinful—and others have the potential to be. Bathsheba’s bathing wasn’t a sin, but if she did it hoping the king would do what he did, then it became sinful. David’s accidental glance wasn’t a sin, but when he lusted and acted, it became one. Satan is a master at wrapping innocent things in sinful paper.

Only God can give us the wisdom to play with the right toys and to keep them in the proper perspective. We can’t trust our own judgment. It’s skewed by our sinful nature and our propensity to gratify our selfish desires.

God may not ask you to throw your toys away. He may simply want you to see them with different eyes or use them more productively.

Father, guide me in using my toys so they won’t grab my attention away from you and more important things.

Three Bean Salad

2026-05-30T04:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients
1 CAN GREEN BEANS
1 CAN WAXED BEANS
1 CAN KIDNEY BEANS
1 SMALL ONION CHOPPED
1 GREEN PEPPER CHOPPED

Directions

DRAIN ALL THE BEANS.
COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND POUR DRESSING OVER.

DRESSING

Ingredients
¾ CUP SUGAR
½ CUP OLIVE OIL
½ CUP VINEGAR
1 TEASPOON SALT
1 TEASPOON PEPPER

Directions

MIX ALL TOGETHER AND ADD TO BEAN MIXTURE.
COVER AND REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT.

Hemmed In - Martin Wiles

2026-05-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 NIV

The fence was there for a purpose—not just for looks.

The first house I lived in was situated on two acres of land just outside of town. Gardening and farming had always been in my blood—I suppose because both of my grandfathers had, so I decided to set up a small farm. I bought twenty chickens, two goats, and two hogs.

But before buying any of my animals, I erected two fences. A six-foot high fence for the chickens, complete with one-by-fours around the bottom. For the hogs, I put up hog wire and fastened it to the ground with stakes. Although I’d had none of these animals before, I knew their tendency. My maternal grandfather raised hogs, and I watched as they continuously tried to root under the fence. Since goats go over, I topped the fence with barbed wire. I’d watched my maternal grandmother raise chickens, so I knew they loved to fly over a fence and roost up high.

I didn’t hem my animals in because I wanted to make their lives miserable. Just the opposite. I knew if they got out, they might be killed by other animals, get run over on the highway, or be tempted to go into the neighbor’s yard and root up everything. The fence protected them.

The psalmist also knew God hemmed him in for a reason. He was hemmed in by God’s commands and principles, as well as by his daily interactions. He enjoyed being hemmed in.

As God’s child, God also hems us in. Instead of looking at his commands and principles as cruel and cumbersome—things given to make our lives miserable—we can see them as being for our good. Like my hogs and goats, we tend to root under God’s commands and jump over his principles. Things on the other side look more appealing.

But God knows what’s best. That’s why he gave guiding ideologies. And that’s why he gently brings us back into the fence with his discipline when we get out. He loves us and wants us to experience the best in life, which we won’t know if we go over or under what he’s put there to hem us.

Learn to live within the hemming boundaries of what God has erected. He provides the fences for your good, not your detriment.

Father, thank you for hemming me in so I won’t wander on paths I’d be better off leaving alone.

The Sun - Lynne Phipps

2026-05-27T04:00:00.000-04:00

To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3 NIV

It was a cold winter’s day. So cold that I debated going for my daily walk with the dogs, worrying that it would be too frigid for their feet. Nevertheless, they were anxious to get outside, so off we went.

As we trudged around the snowy path, I pulled my parka hood up over my hatted head to try to cut the searing north wind. What a bitter day, I thought. In spite of the cold, however, the beauty of the brilliant blue sky against the stark white landscape was a sight to behold. Best of all, however, was the heat of the winter sun beating down upon us, making our glacial experience that much more bearable.

That winter sun reminded me of the last part of today’s scripture verse: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Life, just like the weather, can at times become quite bitter, causing us to become discouraged or even to despair. God understands this and has given us a remedy to make our difficult situations bearable.

Praise is the key to lifting our spirits and blessing us with the encouragement, hope, and strength to persevere amidst the winters of life.

Praise focuses our attention on the truth of who God is, what He has done in the past, and what He will do now and in the future. Praise opens the door of hope, as well as expectancy. God is ever-present. He will never leave us. He goes before us and can lead us on the right path. He is the God of peace who will provide every good thing we need in order to do His will. God provides wonderful counsel and wisdom. He hears us when we cry and answers our pleas. He is also able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever hope or dream, more even than our highest prayers.

Yes, when we don the garment of praise amidst our times of discouragement or despair, our spirits are lifted, our burdens become lighter, and hope for today as well as tomorrow begins to shine down upon us, just as that warmth of that winter sun shone down upon me on that cold and bitter winter’s day and gave me strength to keep going.

Father God, thank you for the garment of praise to banish the spirit of heaviness within my life when the storms of life assail me. Remind me to don it quickly and wrap it tightly around me. In your name I pray, amen.

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More, Christian Devotions, and Love Lines from God.

Club Benefits - Martin Wiles

2026-05-25T04:00:00.000-04:00

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT

We had the clubhouse. All we needed were members. And after all, we had club benefits.

My first cousin and his family lived next door to my maternal grandparents on a large farm. The closest neighbors were of another race, and, because of the prevailing culture at the time, neither he nor his siblings had much to do with them. He only played with other cousins, his siblings, or someone farther down the road with whom he went to church. Many of his games and ventures, he concocted himself.

One of his ventures was building a clubhouse. He happened to be in the middle of his construction project when I made one of my periodic visits. Using scrap lumber from around the farm, we finished our small square dwelling and decided who would and would not be welcome. Somewhat of a mute decision since we were the only two around. Who could we exclude? And why would our membership rules matter if no one else wanted to join?

The early church began as somewhat of an exclusive club, too. When the Holy Spirit appeared on the Day of Pentecost, he indwelt only Jewish people. As non-Jews began believing and receiving the Spirit, some of the Jewish folks wondered whether they should let them into the club. An eventual decision by the church opened the doors to anyone, with a few conditions.

God’s club is inclusive and exclusive. Everyone who wants to join is welcome, but there are conditions. God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but he also won’t allow just anyone in without an examination.

Confession of sin is one requirement. Christ assures us that if we confess him as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. Forgiveness hinges on confession and repentance and is our ticket into God’s clubhouse.

Once in, we get to enjoy the benefits of belonging—forgiveness of our sins being one. God also offers an abundant life. The ability to live with peace and confidence regardless of what we face in life. We also have the assurance of God’s perpetual presence with us, guiding us in every life decision. When life is over, we transfer our membership from earth to heaven. A place where no hardship, pain, sorrow, sin, or death exists.

No other club offers the benefits God’s does. Join today.

Father, thank you for offering club membership to anyone who asks.

Sugar Free Oreo Cookie Delight

2026-05-23T04:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients

2 packs Sugar-Free Oreo Cookies
1 large pack Sugar-Free Chocolate Pudding Mix
1 8-ounce tub Sugar-Free Cool Whip
1 box Sugar-Free Chocolate Cake Mix
2 ½ cups low-fat milk

Directions

Bake cake mix as directed on box. Cool and crumble.

In a separate bowl, mix pudding and milk.

Then fold in 4 ounces of Cool Whip.

Using your favorite glass dish, start with a layer of crumbled cake mix, followed by a layer of pudding mixture, and finally Oreos.

Continue layering until all ingredients are used.

Top with the remainder of Cool Whip.

Cover and refrigerate for two hours before serving.

The Heavenly Know-It-All - Martin Wiles

2026-05-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. Proverbs 5:21 NLT

Every class I took in college seemed to have a know-it-all.

Know-it-alls are people who think they ... well ... know it all. And during my college tenure, I knew quite a few. They were the ones who quickly raised their hands when the professor asked a question he thought no one should know. With a smirky smile, they bellowed their answers and were proud of them—even when they were wrong. They were the ones who prided themselves on asking difficult questions to the professors, thinking they might stump the one who was supposed to know everything. And they loved to brag … on themselves.

I never enjoyed hanging around with know-it-alls. Their pompous attitudes got in the way of my having any meaningful conversation or relationship with them. A friendly, “How are you?” was the most I could manage. Inside, I felt sorry for them when the professors put them in their place or when I saw others avoiding them because of their attitude. And there were times when I knew more than they did, but I wouldn’t answer because I didn’t want to be perceived as what they were.

But there is one know-it-all I choose to have a relationship with: God. We term his ability to know it all as omniscience. Just as he is all-powerful and can be in all places at the same time, so he also has the capacity to know the past, present, and future—as well as all the possibilities that never materialize.

This trait of God is comforting. When we’re down in the dumps, he knows. When the financial crunch crunches, he knows. When the relationship sours, he knows. When the test grade bombs, he knows. Not only does he know the facts, but he also knows the whys behind the facts. He knows how to get us through the financial messes, soured relationships, difficult assignments, tough work atmospheres, and emotional upsets.

I make a habit of avoiding know-it-alls, but not God. He’s not pompous or self-focused. He wants to help us through life’s tough spots, and will if we ask.

Don’t wait until life goes downhill to consult God. He’s the know-it-all who knows it all and wants to help you every day and with every detail.

Father, as my heavenly Know-It-All, prompt me to come to you with all of life’s episodes—good and bad.

Missing Nothing – Kristen Whiteley

2026-05-20T04:00:00.000-04:00

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 ESV

It’s not often that I read the Bible in French, but one morning that’s exactly what I did. I began with the oft-read and beautifully familiar Psalm 23: “L’Eternel est mon berger, je ne manquerai de rien.” Literally, “the Eternal One is my Shepherd, I will miss nothing.”

I will miss nothing? The six verses of this psalm have slipped through my lips innumerable times since I was probably twelve, sealed on my heart, and yet the nuance of this translation shifted my whole perspective of the opening lines. “I shall not want” has a very different flavor from “I will miss nothing.”

Allowing God to guide my steps, to care for me tenderly and work for my good, warrants the blessing of fullness. To walk in step with the Shepherd is to experience life in such a way that I don’t miss anything.

I followed this train of thought as it chugged away in my mind, and considered the pragmatic application of this truth. What about the prompting of the Holy Spirit to spend money in a certain way? To reach out and apologize to someone, though it could feel embarrassing? Instead of viewing these things as restrictive, we can see the full and better life on the other side of the Lord’s correcting or leading. Restoring fellowship leads to peace and a free heart. Giving money, time, or talent invites God to give back in tangible, unprecedented ways.

I ponder the practices of a good friend and mentor who keeps sheep. She has an upper and a lower pasture, and she leads the sheep back and forth to keep the forage fresh as the grass cycles through grazing and regrowth. Animals that are left to graze freely in large areas tend to deplete the land over time. Through rotational grazing, the earth has time to recover, and the ruminants enjoy a fuller diet. The animals thrive as their livestock owner leads them within certain boundaries.

Lean into the Lord’s tender guidance; He will not disappoint. The Lord is my Shepherd. Truly, I will miss nothing.

Looking for Evidence - Martin Wiles

2026-05-18T04:00:00.000-04:00

I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side. John 20:25 NLT

We were looking for evidence, and it was overwhelming. Yet, we followed something we feared.

Panthertown Valley is just outside Cashiers, North Carolina. But if someone is looking for a directional sign, they’ll be disappointed. But my brother and I had directions. Numerous trails run through more than 10,000 acres of protected land, and we planned to hike one of them.

As we made our way along the trail, we noticed scat. Since it was filled with berries, we knew which animal left it. Although we enjoyed the scenery, our eyes roamed our surroundings. Every noise made our hearts race and our eyes dance. When we reached the end of the trail, a tree with claw marks greeted us. A bear scratching post. We never saw Smokey, but the evidence convinced us he was near.

The evidence convinced us, but not Thomas. Jesus had been resurrected from the grave. Women saw him, as did some of the other disciples, but eyewitness reports weren’t enough for Thomas. He wanted to see the marks. So Jesus showed him. Then Thomas felt ashamed that he’d asked.

The evidence for God’s existence seems overwhelming to me—but not all agree. When I look at nature and how natural laws operate according to an unseen plan, I wonder how anyone could doubt, or even deny, the existence of a Higher Being. Theologians disagree over the methods God used to create. Did he initiate a Big Bang or perhaps use evolution as his process? Or was everything a fiat act of creation out of nothing?

Jesus showed Thomas the evidence he asked for and listened as Thomas shamefully confessed him as Lord and Savior. He should have believed without the evidence. God won’t appear to us and say, “Yes, I exist and created,” but he has given enough evidence to know he does and did.

The evidence at Panthertown Valley convinced my brother and me that a bear was in the area, whether or not we physically saw him with our eyes. The universe, along with a still small voice that speaks to my spirit, convinces me God exists, loves me, and wants to be included in my life. What I do with the evidence is up to me.

Evidence for God’s existence is overwhelming. Believe he exists and invite him into your life.

Father, I acknowledge you as the Creator and Governor of the universe and my life.

Apple Nut Cake

2026-05-16T04:00:00.006-04:00

Ingredients
3 CUPS DICED APPLES

1 CUP CHOPPED PECANS

2 CUPS SUGAR

3 CUPS SELF-RISING FLOUR

1 CUP CRISCO OIL

3 EGGS

1 TEASPOON VANILLA

Directions
HAND MIX ALL INGREDIENTS.

POUR INTO A GREASED TUBE PAN.

BAKE ON 350 DEGREES FOR 1 HOUR OR UNTIL DONE.

GLAZE

Ingredients
½ CUP BUTTER

1 CUP BROWN SUGAR

¼ CUP EVAPORATED MILK

1 TEASPOON VANILLA

Directions
HEAT MARGARINE AND BROWN SUGAR OVER LOW HEAT UNTIL MELTED.

ADD MILK AND LET COME TO A FULL BOIL.

REMOVE FROM HEAT AND COOL.

ADD VANILLA AND POUR OVER CAKE.

If you seek hope and healing because of hurts you have faced, then Hurt, Hope, and Healing is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

How to Conquer Stress - Martin Wiles

2026-05-15T04:00:00.079-04:00

In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure. Isaiah 33:6 NLT

Living a stress-free life is impossible. Therefore, how to conquer stress is the challenge.

Women report they experience stress for the following reasons: contradictory feelings, changing expectations, new freedoms but fewer options, guilt over working outside the home, too much to do with too little time, fatigue, boredom, unrealistic expectations, role conflicts, and pressures from the workplace. The top five stressors reported by women were the death of a spouse, divorce, marriage, the death of a family member, and being fired.

For men, the four major stressors concern their bodies, careers, families, and personal issues. Although men and women face similar stressors, men seem to handle them in an unhealthier manner. Symptoms that appear as men age include high blood pressure, body aches, ulcers, heartburn, and headaches. Statistically, they also die earlier than women (Wright, H Norman. Winning over Your Emotions).

The nation of Israel faced its own set of stressors—many brought on by its repeated disobedience to God. God often used pagan nations to correct their wayward behavior, but he also assured Israel of his love and protection when they obeyed.

Although we cannot eliminate stress, we can conquer it, but how?

Welcome small doses of stress

These get our adrenaline flowing and propel us into actions that can benefit us, our churches, our communities, and even the world. A life completely free of stressors would be boring and uneventful. Too many stressors—or the wrong type--can inflict emotional, physical, and spiritual pain—leading to our detriment.

Have a correct view of God

God is not a distant deity who has no concerns for the events in our lives. He walks beside us, lives within us by his Spirit, and wants to direct our paths to an abundant life. But we must give him control and believe he is in control.

Build time to relax

Opportunities to serve God and others abound, but we can’t take advantage of them all. Asking God which ones he wants us to snatch is important. As Jesus took time to relax, we must also make time for our families and ourselves.

Re-evaluating your view of self

The why of what we're doing that’s leading to stress is more important than what we're doing. If ulterior motives are involved, stress is sure to accumulate.

Don’t let stress conquer you; let God help you conquer it.

Father, give us life guidance so our bodies will not be conquered by the ill effects of stress.

The Hidden - Lynne Phipps

2026-05-13T04:00:00.075-04:00

Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV

As spring approached and the days warmed, the deep snow in the dog’s yard disappeared flake by flake. With its demise, the hidden became more apparent.

Bright colors shone through, and shapes materialized. Dog toys galore, buried beneath the mantle of white, emerged one by one. The dogs were thrilled to find this treasure trove of delights. The toys, of course, had been there all along; they just couldn’t see them.

Likewise, many things about God remain hidden even to the most dedicated of Christians. Even Moses, who at God’s command led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, could only view the glory of God from behind as God passed by. After all, no one could see God’s face and live.

The apostle John was granted many visions and revelations concerning the things yet to come, the Kingdom, and the enemies of God. He sought to describe these visions as he penned the book of Revelation, a book which scholars still study and seek to understand.

Mary learned that she would bear the Son of God, yet it was an angel who made the announcement. She heard from God, but could only see Him in His fulfilled promise.

Each of these great heroes of faith knew God in part, but not in whole. They too had to continue to walk by faith, day by day, trusting that what they did know about the Almighty would not fail them, that His promises were true and faithful in every way, just as He is.

Therefore, amidst our own questions, concerns, and from time to time, our doubts, we too must walk by faith. We must trust in our hearts that, though much remains hidden concerning God and His Kingdom, one day God will make all things clear. God will lift the veil from our eyes, just as the snow melts away, revealing what lies beneath. When that day arrives, all our questions will be answered, and our doubts and concerns will vanish. We will fully see the glory of God, just as He fully knows us, even now.

What joy shall fill our souls as the hidden bursts forth upon our sight. God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, shall be our portion in all His splendor and glory forever and ever.

Father God, thank You that one day, Your glory, which has always been but in its fullness has been hidden from our mortal sight, shall one day become clear and known to us for eternity. In Christ’s name, amen.

Peeled Like a Potato - Martin Wiles

2026-05-11T04:00:00.030-04:00

When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. Hosea 1:2 NLT

I stood with a bag of potatoes beside me, a knife in my hand, and what appeared like eternity in front of me.

Corporal tunnel surgery had not slowed my wife down much—and I was glad since, at the time, she was our cook at church for Wednesday night meals. Although I was prepared to fix the meal under her supervision, I got off with a lighter duty.

“How good are you at peeling potatoes?” she asked.

“Okay, I suppose,” I answered and took the knife she handed me.

“Peel half of this bag.”

When I finished peeling, she said, “Now slice them and then dice them into small pieces so they’ll cook quickly.”

The dish was simple. She was merely browning the potatoes and adding a little butter and other seasoning. Yet almost an hour was spent getting ready to make the dish. Peeling and preparing a potato can be a lengthy process.

Hosea was peeled like a potato. God’s call to him involved marrying a prostitute—or a woman with promiscuous leanings--and having her bear him children through adulterous relationships. Seems like a strange plan, but his life episode would illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.

God’s plan often comes in layers like a sliced potato. He doesn’t show us the entire schema, just bits and pieces. Hosea’s wife didn’t stop with one promiscuous affair but continued until Hosea finally brought her home and confined her. My obedience to each stage of God’s unfolding plan demonstrates my determination to do what He wants me to do—even if I can’t see the end.

God’s plan can be painful, as it was for Hosea and for my back while I stood for an hour peeling. No spouse enjoys being the recipient of unfaithfulness. God often allowed his prophets to demonstrate their messages in graphic ways, and Hosea’s did, too. Hosea hurt. Through pain, we grow spiritually and are drawn closer to our Creator.

And God’s plan will always entail change. Never can we stay where we are and go with God. The potato won’t become a hash brown casserole, French fries, or browned potatoes if it stays in its original state.

Regardless of the pain or the change required, determine to follow God’s plan for your life.

Father, give me the courage and faith I need to say “Yes” to your plan.

Pasta Salad

2026-05-09T04:00:00.004-04:00

Ingredients

1 16 OZ. BOX COLORED PASTA

1 CUP SUGAR

3 MEDIUM CARROTS CHOPPED FINE

1 CUP WHITE VINEGAR

1 BELL PEPPER CHOPPED FINE

1 CUP MAYONNAISE

1 MEDIUM RED ONION CHOPPED FINE

1 TEASPOON SALT

3 CELERY RIBS CHOPPED FINE

1 TEASPOON PEPPER

1 CAN EAGLE BRAND MILK

Directions

COOK PASTA BY DIRECTIONS ON THE BOX.

DRAIN AND DRY ON DISH TOWEL.

MIX CARROTS, BELL PEPPER, ONION, CELERY, MILK, SUGAR, VINEGAR, MAYONNAISE, SALT AND PEPPER.
ADD PASTA.

MIX TOGETHER AND REFRIGERATE.

BETTER MADE A DAY BEFORE SERVING.

The Promise Keeper - Martin Wiles

2026-05-08T04:00:00.015-04:00

And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 20:17 NLT

He made a promise to his best friend, but now his friend lay dead on a mountaintop.

Davey and Johnny were best buds and had been since they were young. Davey’s family farmed while Johnny’s came from the upper class. Despite their cultural differences, Davey and Johnny managed to maintain their friendship.

Johnny’s dad, however, was leery of Davey. Though Davey came from the lower class, he saw potential in him—potential that might carry him far in life. So, he gave him a job at his company—but with ulterior motives. He thought Davey’s sharp mind might help his company move forward.

As Johnny’s dad aged, he planned for Johnny to take over the company after his retirement or death. But Johnny had no interest in the company and secretly wanted Davey to run the business. He even made Davey promise to care for his family if something happened to him. (He seemed to have eerie premonitions.)

Johnny’s premonition materialized. He and his father were tragically killed while on the way to negotiate with a firm that was their staunchest competitor. Davey kept his promise, though, ran the business, and even cared for Johnny’s disabled son. He could have forgotten his promise and pursued his own interests, but he chose to honor his friend by keeping his word.

Being as good as our word is a high goal for which to reach—but a worthy one. A person’s word was once enough … with perhaps a handshake to follow. Not anymore. Although we live in an age of paperwork that protects us and the one to whom we’re making promises, our word should be as good as if there were no paperwork. Our promises should not be made lightly.

Breaking a promise should never enter our minds. Only under extenuating circumstances and unusual conditions should we renege on our word. Keeping our word is important, even if it inconveniences us. Taking care of Johnny’s disabled son certainly did Davey.

Perhaps more than anything else, keeping promises exemplifies our faithfulness to God. When we’re serious about keeping our promises to God—as he is about keeping his to us—we’ll find it easier to keep our word to others.

When you give your word, keep it.

Father, help me understand how important it is to keep my word to others.

Tossing Aside the Useless - Anita van der Elst

2026-05-06T04:00:00.024-04:00

Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:50 NLT

Knowing how to dress in the area where I live challenges me.

At eight in the morning, clouds dump buckets of water. Noontime finds a blinding sun in a clear blue sky. The evening treats us to a thunder-and-lightning show accompanied by pinging hail.

Should I layer a raincoat over a sweater or grab my umbrella and hope for the best? If I wear a coat to keep warm, I get overheated when I enter the grocery store, which makes my shopping task unpleasant. I must toss the coat because it’s a useless interference.

And then I sometimes sort through my closet—determining what doesn’t fit anymore, what would have the fashion police up in arms, or what is plain worn out. They’ve become useless to me and take up space for something new.

I wonder if that’s how Bartimaeus felt about his wardrobe. As a beggar, his coat was probably ragged, smelly, and so full of holes that it would have been easy to get tangled up in, especially since he was blind.

But with the potential to meet Jesus and be healed of blindness, the blind man let go of the covering impeding his movement. It appears, however, that it was more forceful than just dropping it. No. He threw it.

The old habits and activities we wrap ourselves in only entangle us. When Jesus calls us, we must toss aside all that impedes us from following Him. We need the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that He offers. He will heal our spiritual blindness so we see Him. Then He invites us to express our wants and needs.

Think about what raggedy old habits or thoughts keep you slumped on the side of the road and away from Jesus. Toss them aside and hurry to Him as Bartimaeus did.

Angels of Mercy - Martin Wiles

2026-05-04T04:00:00.020-04:00

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:16 NLT

We sat on the porch and watched the angels of mercy come, one after the other.

My wife and I were visiting a shut-in couple from our church when the angels of mercy arrived. As we enjoyed the cool fall weather, I watched the front door of the house across the road open. A lady with a covered tray walked out and across the street. She strolled up the couple’s front steps and told them she had made them supper. As she named off the southern meats and vegetables under the foil, the husband’s mouth watered. She took the meal inside, placed it on their table, made a few minutes of small talk, and then left.

A few more minutes of conversation passed when a neighbor on the left walked over with a plastic bag and said, “Thank you, Papa, for watching my kids.”

“You’re welcome, honey,” he said.

I wondered how he had cared for her kids, since he could hardly care for himself or his wife. His eyes lit up as he looked inside and discovered six packs of bologna—one of his favorite meats to fry and make a sandwich from.

“Thank you, Lord,” he whispered, tears dotting his eyes as his neighbor walked away.

Both angels were from different races and cultures—one an African American and the other Hispanic. But it mattered not to this couple living in a neighborhood that had changed drastically since they purchased their home fifty years before. God has sent his angels, and they were thankful.

Like most people, I sometimes focus more on my own needs than on others’. I want God to send his angels in the form of others to help me, but I forget he wants to send me as an angel of mercy as well. But putting my eyes and hands on others relieves the emotional intensity of the hardships I might be facing and reminds me that I don’t have to look far to find people in more dire straits than I am.

Opportunities to be used as God’s angel of mercy abound. Being one requires living with intentionality, desire, love, and openness to the opportunities God places all around us.

Ask God to send you angelic opportunities.

Father, thank you for the privilege of serving as your hands and feet in this world.

Barbecue Pulled Pork

2026-05-02T04:00:00.006-04:00

Ingredients

1 10-pound Boston Butt

Butt Rub Seasoning

Directions

Rub Butt Rub over the entire roast.

Place in crock pot.

Fill 3/4s full with water.

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Pull apart.

Serve with your favorite barbeque sauce or mix sauce in meat.

What's Involved in a Sit-In - Martin Wiles

2026-05-01T04:00:00.015-04:00

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Hebrews 10:12 NLT

He pulled up a chair, sat beside me, and raised his left arm in the air.

Our church was hosting its first craft fair. A good number of vendors signed up, set up, and enjoyed interacting with customers—along with selling them products. I sat at a table near the entrance, hosting my first book signing. As my wife talked with the various vendors, a gentleman from our church took her seat beside me, raised his left arm, and smiled.

“What are you doing?” I—along with others who stopped by—asked.

“Sitting in for your wife,” he responded.

My wife had undergone carpal tunnel surgery the day before and was supposed to be sitting with her arm elevated. But she wasn’t being a good patient, as usual, so our friend decided he’d show her how a sit-in was supposed to be done.

Although no more than a young boy in the 1960’s, I remember another type of sit-in. The kind where minority groups, whose rights were being violated by governmental laws and society’s traditions, sat in various stores and other locations. Had I chosen to sit with them—or sit in their place—I would have faced the same retaliation as they did.

The biblical writer, however, introduces another type of sit-in—one that also had consequences but wonderful results. This sit-in occurred after Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected from the grave, and then ascended back to heaven.

Jesus sat in my place as my friend did for my wife, but with a big difference. His sitting in her for her had no effect on the swelling in her arm. She was still walking around with it dangling in the wrong direction. Jesus’s sitting in our place has the potential to alter our current life situation and eternal state. His sit-in was substitutionary, which means he took our place.

If we choose, we can avoid having to pay for our sins and be eternally separated from God. We can be released from condemnation and live with confidence, peace, and joy. But we must accept the effects of Jesus’s sit-in by confessing our sins, putting our trust in Him, and claiming him as our Savior.

Don’t try to sit in for yourself. Accept the sit-in Christ made for you.

Father, thank you for allowing your Son to sit in on my behalf.

How to Grow Your Nose by Controlling Your Anger - Martin Wiles

2026-04-29T04:00:00.017-04:00

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

Had I created mine, I would have made it shorter and narrower.

The nose is an interesting part of the body’s anatomy. It continues to grow as a person ages. And I have seen many 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.

But growing my nose longer has never entered my mind—but perhaps it should. The Hebrew word 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 our anatomy. So interesting that we might indeed wish our noses would keep growing. Anger is one of those God-created emotions that almost everyone struggles with. The emotion itself is neutral, but it is rarely expressed in the same way. 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 us with. We may have genetic propensities or have lived through environmental situations that make it easier for us to express our anger in unhealthy ways, but neither excuses the responsibility for our actions. “I can’t help it” won’t cut the mustard with God. Strength comes from learning to control the emotion.

We can grow our noses 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 we act, by depending on God’s Spirit to help us do what we might not ordinarily do, and by looking for beneficial ways to express our anger.

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

Father, help me to express my anger in ways that please you and benefit others.