Elizabeth Keckley was a slave in Missouri before the Civil War. Keckley’s greatest desire was purchasing freedom for herself and her son. Her owner told her that if she could raise $1,200, she could have
Read moreGrace Giver
Tag: Martin Wiles
Taking a Walk
I had reached the age of twelve, and Dad kept his promise. Dad loved to hunt and eat squirrel—and wanted me to also. I heard the hinges squeak on my bedroom door. Dad peeked his
Read moreGetting Clean
COVID ran rampant, and I was scared to get clean. Only once before had I gone more than three days without a shower—when my daughter and I had backpacked for five days and had no
Read moreBudgeting for God
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.” Luke 21:3 NLT They eagerly awaited my instructions. Among the projects my middle-school computer class must complete each
Read moreWhen Life Changes
When the phone rang, we knew something had happened. My wife talks with her mom nightly, but when her mom called at 8:30 one Sunday morning, we knew something was amiss. My father-in-law had fallen
Read moreSaying Goodbye: The Challenge of Change
We fought to swallow the lumps in our throat, and we blinked away the tears. Then, we said goodbye. Our daughter had always been our run-away bride. No man had been able to tame her.
Read moreNew Year, New Beginning, and New ID
Proving my identity proved difficult. The COVID pandemic made people crazy in more ways than one. Although we didn’t live in an area where cases were spiking or in a dangerous part of town, I
Read moreChristmas Surprise
As our extended family opened Christmas gifts, we never imagined the greatest gift wasn’t nestled beneath the tree. For many years, our family had gathered on Christmas Eve—or the day before depending on work schedules—to
Read moreThe Gathering
The annual gathering happened two days before Thanksgiving. Each year, most of the churches in the small town where I pastored gathered for a community Thanksgiving service. A different church hosted the event each year,
Read moreFlawed but Functional
Sin had ensnared another victim. I listened as the newscaster gave a piecemeal report. The leaders of a noted mega church met behind closed doors. The pastor had planted the church sixteen years before on
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