Tag Archives: Martin Wiles

Cheer Up the Lonely

VineWords Devotions and More

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27 NLT Their faces told their stories. Some had adapted well, but loneliness ate at others. Some resided there because family members didn’t want to care for them. Doing so would have inconvenienced their lives. Others had outlived all their family members and had none to care for them. And still … Continue reading →

When Life Gets Too Convenient

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The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” ~Proverbs 26:13 NLT I remember when I first encountered 7-Elevens and how they changed my gas-station world. Prior to their appearance, my young world in the Deep South was filled with gas stations, not convenience stores. In fact, I had no idea what a convenience store was. Gas stations existed for refueling, having the oil checked, having the windshield cleaned, having the … Continue reading →

The Health Kick

VineWords Devotions and More

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT For many years, they have been one of my favorite foods—one that I should leave alone except on occasion. Then the health-kick bug bit. Well, a moderated bite, anyway. French Fries … Continue reading →

Be Ye Kind … Even to Animals

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The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. ~Proverbs 12:10 NLT When the boss asked if I wanted four kittens, I jumped at the offer. After all, I lived in the country with chickens, goats, and hogs. I needed a few cats to cut down on field mice and other critters. The Kittens I had not grown up in a household with cats. Nor had my parents. My grandparents on Mom’s side owned hunting dogs, mostly, … Continue reading →

Be Bored, Be Creative, Be Busy

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But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. ~Luke 5:16 NLT The Boredom Be bored, be creative, be busy. There’s something to be said about that. By today’s standards, my cousin and I were bored country boys. We lived before technology had crept in and covered so much of our every waking minutes. We, however, still needed something to do, like some of my grandsons who live in the country and are not allowed much screentime. So we dreamed … Continue reading →

How to Be Satisfied

VineWords Devotions and More

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. ~Ephesians 4:16 NLT One chose to stay on the farm; the other chose city life. One was satisfied; the other, well… Learning how to be satisfied isn’t the easiest thing in the world. When my mom was a junior in high school, she chose to … Continue reading →

Lessons from a Dog on a Foot

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Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ~Luke 10:39 NLT Of all the stores my grandfather delivered ice cream to, the one where the dog sat on my foot was my favorite. Who would have guessed I would learn lessons from a dog on a foot? Aside from a few chain pharmacies, gas stations, and small-town grocery stores, Mom-and-Pop stores ran the retail world. Small stores owned by local people. Stores where customers could … Continue reading →

No Turning Back

VineWords Devotions and More

But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. ~Genesis 19:26 NLT “I wish I could come back.” But there was no turning back. Every year, it happens. Most of the time, quite a few utter the statement. High school freshmen who hated middle school but now wish they could return. We middle school teachers tried to warn them about the transition. We told them how much more difficult high … Continue reading →

Why Serving the Least of These Still Matters

VineWords Devotions and More

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! ~Matthew 25:40 NLT He pushed a buggy and always seemed in a hurry. The Challenge “I hate to throw away these leftovers,” my wife said after we finished supper. Cooking for two people is challenging, and she had prepared too much for our New Year’s meal. We had eaten leftovers twice and still had more … Continue reading →

Christmas’s Unexpected Changes

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But God kept them from recognizing him. ~Luke 24:16 NLT The news stung like a hornet against bare skin. Christmas’s unexpected changes had invaded our home and annual tradition.   For over a decade, my wife and I celebrated Christmas with our two children on Christmas day. We considered it a sacred tradition—and thought they did, too. We loved watching them—and later their children—open gifts we had purchased for them. But then, we got the news. Around mid-November, our daughter … Continue reading →