Friday, February 27, 2015

Victory Over One Thing


Living Lessons: Victory Over One Thing
By: Christopher Wiles

"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' He said." - Mark 10:21a

If Jesus looked at my life, I don't think He would say "One thing you lack."  I think would exclaim (imagine a loving southern drawl here), "Here's a whole boatload of stuff we've got to work on boy!"  As He reveals my weaknesses to me, I try to work on ways to repent and then glorify Him.

Recently, I found myself beginning to complain about the cold when I felt the Spirit tapping my conscience on the shoulder saying, "This is one thing you lack."  I was then reminded of Paul's words to the church at Thessalonica, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thess 5:16-18

I'm thinking about that "for this is God's will for you" part.  Is my complaining about the consistent cold part of God's will for me?  It seems to be a far cry from "rejoice always" and "give thanks in all circumstances" that Paul instructs. 

I determined to work on a way to actively rejoice in the cold, appreciate it, and give thanks for it.  Truth be told, my wife thought I was a little crazy with my idea.  She even registered her "formal complaint" before she saw me go ice skating across the pond at Eastside Park while in a 20 degree snow fall.
Ice Skating Outside!

ICE SKATING OUTSIDE! (This was a new first for me.  Here's the video evidence: https://instagram.com/p/zmMBI_Pw11 .) 

Then I thanked God not just for the three weeks of cold weather that made the thick ice, but I thanked Him too for not horribly embarrassing me with a trip/fall and polar plunge combination.  It may be a small thing to everyone else, turning my griping to rejoicing, but I consider it a significant victory in the battle against all my many "one things." 

It's such a great reminder that it is worthy of repeating.  "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Consider how you can live out this Holy Scripture today.  You'll be glad you did.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Living Lessons: The Joy Of Snow!

Living Lessons: The Joy Of Snow!
By: Christopher Wiles
This past week was a hard week for some.  I admit, it is easy to get down and depressed with the weather keeping us indoors and imposing on our schedules. While it may seem inconvenient to have all this snow, to me it is a message of His perfection, His design, and His love for His Creation!  Due to the following verses (and the photos I took below of snowflakes), no matter what the weather brings, snow or sunshine, I will choose to believe, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" - Psalm 118:24

"That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made." - Romans 1:19-20a

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." - Psalm 19:1

"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters." - Proverbs 25:13
May each snowflake be a refreshing message to your soul!
Snowflakes from Ethan & Micah's jackets on 02/17/2015.

Snowflakes on an exercise mat next to a quarter that I took on 02/17/2015.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Each One Is A Message

We took just a couple early photos this morning to share some of God's goodness with you.  Pay special attention to the beautiful designs in the snow flakes!  While it may seem in inconvenience to some to have snow, to me it is a message of His perfection, His design, and His love for His Creation!

"That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made." - Romans 1:19-20a

"Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters." - Proverbs 25:13

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.2JHSgpwI.dpuf
May each snowflake be a refreshing message to your soul!













Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.2JHSgpwI.dpuf
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.2JHSgpwI.dpuf

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Letter Lessons - A God Guided Marriage

Letter Lessons: A God Guided Marriage
By: Christopher Wiles
Instead of light writing from my experience in daily life (Living Lessons), I want to share with you thoughts that inspire me from a collection of letters from another's extraordinary life.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German protestant minister  who wrote from prison before his 1945 execution at the hands of Hitler's Nazis.  On May 15th, 1943, approximately 6 weeks after his arrest and missing the wedding ceremony of close friends due to being held in prison, Dietrich wrote these thoughts on marriage to his friends.



"Marriage is more than your love for each other.  It has a higher dignity and power, for it is God's holy ordinance, through which He wills to perpetuate the human race till the end of time.  In your love, you see only your two selves in the world, but in marriage you are a link in the chain of generations.  In your love you see only the heaven of your own happiness, but in marriage you are placed at a post of responsibility towards the world and mankind.  Your love is your own private possession, but marriage is more than something personal.  It is marriage and not merely your love for each other, that joins you together in the sight of God and man.  Your love comes from you, but your marriage is from above, from God.  As high as God is above man, so high are the sanctity, the rights, and the promise of marriage above the sanctity, the rights, and the promise of love.  It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love." 

In our day the view marriage has often been sadly reduced to an extravagant party and a temporary civil union. I find Dietrich Bonhoeffer's letter writings from prison to be refreshing and empowering.  It bolsters my resolve to care for the marriage God has given me with my wife.  It reminds me of my marriage's purpose as a practical use in humanity but also as an example of God's designs for others.  Bonhoeffer's writings echo the strong sentiments of scripture about marriage such as these writings from other letters:

"Let marriage be held in honor among all." - Hebrews 13:4a
"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband." - Ephesians 5:31-33


How are you treating your love and your marriage?  Treat your marriage as the high purpose and calling that it truly carries.  You'll be glad you did. 

You can find more of Bonhoeffer's writings in the book titled "Letters & Papers From Prison" on Amazon.com