Stuck In The Middle

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Posted by Martha Wilson, July 18, 2023

As the youngest of three children, my permanent place for travel was in the middle seat. On long trips, as the arguing escalated with “she touched me, and she’s in my space,” my parents would allow me to climb over the seat and sit in the middle of them. I know some younger readers are in shock, but this was allowed when I was a child! Of course, my parents were more patient and allowed me to touch them and even lay my head on their shoulder. I quickly learned that being stuck in the middle was not always bad. In the front middle seat, I could lay my head on my mom’s lap and stretch my legs into Daddy’s space. Now that is real love!

As an adult, I have learned that being stuck in the middle is a beautiful place. What do I mean? It is a place of strength and comfort. I am stronger, with one on my right and the other on my left. Living in close community with others prods me to rise and be a woman of stronger faith.

God intentionally positions us within the family of God. We don’t always love our seats and positions in this family, but we are strategically placed by God’s hand. Have you ever felt that God has placed you beside a complaining sibling? I find that the undesirable seat is often where God teaches us how to live in unity. We often lack grace for the younger in the faith, and sometimes, we are secretly relieved when they climb into another seat.

Not only does scripture tell us we are family, but also part of an active army. We live in a spiritual battle that is raging louder and louder, and we desperately need unity. If we could just learn to stand firm, arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder, as if in combat form, we could advance the Kingdom of God together. Your strengths will build up my weaknesses. When you fall, I can help you up. When the lies seem louder than the truth, you can shout out the truth for me to hear. When one is tired, the other can run ahead, blazing a path of victory.

Why travel alone when you have a family and an army to do life with?

The enemy will trick you into believing it is easier to do it alone instead of learning to live in unity. We gather in our local churches, bible study groups, accountability groups, and mission teams, and together, we seek to live for His glory. It works best when we are in sync and keep the focus on loving God and loving one another.

Paul instructs the Philippians and us how to live this way.

“Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27-28 AMP

Whether we like to admit it or not, we need each other.

We pretend to be strong and confident while bypassing the benefits of belonging to a family. Recently, I found myself surrounded by women that I love and trust. As we prepared to leave, I bravely stepped forward and humbly said, “I’m putting myself in the middle because I need prayer. I am scared. I am sick to my stomach. I don’t know how to do this.” They pressed in close and began to pray. Their prayers reached heaven on my behalf, and peace wrapped me up like a warm fuzzy blanket. I felt the love and security of the little girl on the front seat between my loving parents. I exited the doors a stronger woman, ready to face the battles ahead.

Being stuck in the middle with those who know how to fight for you is a privilege.

Let us be the love and comfort of the Lord. Let’s scoot over and make room for one another. Let’s help one another grow and mature in Christ. Let’s be the family God intended us to be.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who fallsand has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of “A Burst of Hope” weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.

Summer & Surrender

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Posted by Stephanie Griffin, July 18, 2023

The Christian life and summer have one thing in common: surrender. It’s a season where you get to relax, have fun with family and friends, rest, try new recipes, travel to new and old places, read that book your friend let you borrow, and just LET GO! Are you feeling me? Maybe you are in the midst of this surrendering season––this fun-filled, memory-making, letting go of all the tension that we have built up all year. Can you hear Elsa in Disney’s song, Frozen sing...”Let it go! Let it go!”?

Yet, for some, it might be a more difficult surrendering season––a season of caring for a loved one, expectations or dreams dashed, a loss of someone or something important, waiting on the doctor to give you a test result, waiting on a prodigal adult child to return to their roots, or a physical pain that you are praying for healing for. You might be in this season where you are learning and yet not in control.

Surrender actually means “to give up or hand over.” (Webster) It also means to relinquish something granted to you. This could include your possessions, power, goals––even your life.

In Luke 9:23-24, God tells us, “Whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themself and take up their cross daily and follow me.“ Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But, whoever loses their life for me, will save it.”

Yet, the world tells us that freedom is found in doing what we want––having fun, living in the moment, and not looking back.

In God’s kingdom, true freedom is found in following His will and then experiencing the true peace and joy of God.

So, I’ve been pondering this this summer. What does it look like to fully surrender to God’s will? Can I experience true freedom?

Let’s look at Jesus’ example. Jesus lived a surrendered life. “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me...” (John 6:38) Christ never did anything on His own. He didn’t make a move and didn’t speak a word without being instructed by the Father. “I do nothing for myself; but as my Father has taught me. For I do these things that please Him” (John 8:28-29). Jesus’ full surrender to the Father is a perfect example of how we should live. He didn’t talk of His stresses or His “issues.”

He lived content and joyful. So what is God calling you and me to surrender to Him?

For me, it is learning to be completely satisfied and surrendered to Him. No other vice, shopping, binge-watching TV, emotional eating, busy-ness, or anything else will satisfy the way He has and is in my life when I go to him first versus later. I’ve tried...and it is fleeting. I don’t want to spend a lifetime in this cycle. And yet this summer, I realize that it has a whole lot less to do with any action I might take and a whole lot more to do with how I position my heart toward Him.

I remember the story in Matthew 19 of the rich young man who came to Jesus and explained he was following all the rules of the Old Testament, yet he still felt unsatisfied––like something was missing. Jesus responded to him that if he wanted to be whole, he should go sell all his possessions and give it to the poor and he will have treasure up in heaven. However, we all know of this “poor” man’s decision. So, I guess this is it…Jesus is asking me, asking you: “I want you to give up the one thing you crave more than me. Then, come follow me.” Ouch! Can I do it? Can you do it? God wants our undivided heart. And, He also wants what's best for me, even if I can’t see it. So as I lean into Him, might I see it as aligning myself with His will versus giving up something that was never truly mine? Free will. He’ll never force us but invite us. And that invitation, Girls, will never expire.

Walking in God’s grace and love is a lot like summer…it’s surrender.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for living a life of surrender. You sacrificed yourself on the cross so that I might be forgiven and renewed with you. I want to surrender all to you, so expose those areas I have not. I want to walk in Your will, so guide me, walk with me, strengthen me, I need your divine help with each choice I make every day. Help me to come to you FIRST, not last. As I hold my hands up to you, I praise you for your ultimate sacrifice and surrender, which saved my life. Thank you, Lord!

Welcome Stephanie Griffin, our Deeper Still Guest Writer this week. Stephanie is one of the editors of our blog and is an active part of Touching Hearts. She has a servant’s heart and shares her many gifts with others. What a blessing to hear from her heart this week.

Just A Bag Of Tomatoes

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Posted by Martha Wilson, July 12, 2023

Do any of you remember the old-fashioned covered dish gatherings at church? The ladies would bring a dish of home-cooked food. There were no plastic grocery containers on the table. No, it was filled with fresh corn, peas, green beans, casseroles, and potato salad fresh from the community gardens. And who could ever forget the delicious fried chicken? It was a feast begging to be enjoyed when it was all put together on the table. It was a delight to pick and choose whatever you wanted. Of course, the favorite dishes were easy to spot because they were scraped clean, barely needing washing.

I am more of a 2023 kind of participant than I like to admit. You know, the kind that brings what requires the least amount of time and trouble. Has anyone else ever bought the grocery store cake and put it on a pretty glass cake plate, pretending it was homemade? I don’t know why we think we will fool anyone because it’s not just the plastic container that gives it away, but the taste. Why not put in the time and effort to bring my best?

As I sat down at the cozy corner table with my friend Carol, she handed me a little bag with three small tomatoes. “It’s not much, Martha, but these are the first from my vines, and I wanted you to have them.” She brought to the table what she had to share with me. Her first fruits, if you will. They were beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to taste them. Tears filled my eyes as I saw a much deeper story unfolding.

The purpose of our meeting that day was more than coffee and tomatoes. God had put a desire within Carol for the messages spoken at Touching Hearts to spread beyond our walls. She had asked permission to pursue making this happen. Carol brought to the table a great desire that others know our God and experience Him like we are in our little corner of the world. She only had this bag of desire but no clue how to accomplish it, but she knew people who knew people that knew what we needed to know.

The equipment was purchased in just a few weeks. The computer-savvy and techy ones were willing to make this dream come true, so they brought their little bag of knowledge and experience to the table. It looked a lot like the old-fashioned church lunch when it was all spread out on the table.

It doesn’t matter the size or amount; you just bring what you have. Bring your precious bag of tomatoes.

It’s kind of like the Bible story of the boy with the little bag of fish and bread. It was obviously insufficient to feed the entire church gathered there that day.

But then again, was it?

It most definitely was when it was placed in the hands of the miracle maker.

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

(Matthew 14:13-21)

We have the same issue as the disciples had that day. They told Jesus, “We ONLY have 5 fish and 2 loaves of bread.” They saw lack instead of abundance. They were looking only at their little, not at what Jesus could do with it.

It’s not What we have; it’s in Whose hands we place it.

Jesus took what was made available and lifted it to the Father, giving thanks for this offering. He blessed, broke, multiplied, and literally fed thousands. Not only was there enough that all were satisfied, there were even twelve baskets full of leftovers. Now that is a lot of to-go boxes!

What are you withholding from the table of the Lord?

Perhaps you have been trapped by these lies of the enemy. They sometimes sound like this:

“You have nothing to offer. That is so small and insignificant, so don’t even bother. God could never use that. It’s not enough to feed the crowd. Someone else can do it so much better.”

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Oh, let’s crush those lies and believe God’s word here. When I bring my little bag to His big table, it will explode and multiply to be more than enough to feed others.

Just bring what you have and share it.

Write a card of encouragement. Empty the trash. Sweep the porch. Buy the equipment. Give the single flower. Bake the casserole. Pick up a case of water. Make the phone call. Drive the vehicle. Share the love. Paint the wall. Purchase the book. Listen intently. Keep the baby. Buy the dollar store trinket for her just because it made you think of her. Invite for coffee. Pray the prayer. Pass the smile. Give a hug. Share the song. Write the story. Declare His Word.

Go Ahead! Bring your little bag of tomatoes! When we put it all together, we have a feast!

Because of Carol’s obedience and others' willingness to help, Touching Hearts messages reach many. The good news of Jesus has spread beyond our walls. As His word goes out, may thousands be fed as the Lord blesses it all. We long to fulfill our mission to help others live fully for the glory of God. Because others gave their little bag of money, more equipment was purchased, and “A Burst of Hope” podcast was launched to share stories of hope and encouragement. You can check it out here.

Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of “A Burst of Hope” weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.