The Wilkes Team

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: GREAT is thy FAITHFULLNESS.” – Lam. 3:22-23

As we traveled to church last Sunday Dad asked us to each share what it was we were thankful for as we looked over our lives. It was so encouraging to hear the hearts of each of my family members.

As different ones were sharing I was thinking – What is it that I am most grateful for? It then hit me. The faithfulness of my God towards me. Who am I to have been so blessed to be called a child of the Most High? Why does His compassion towards me never fail? Without His direct action in my life I would have no true joy or peace. What a gift I have been given! One that I will never be able to repay. The least I can do is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, to love repentance, and to never give up!

Failure is an area that Satan likes to deceive us in. He wants us to believe that because of our failures we’re unfit to be used by God to fulfill His work. Because we see our lack we allow discouragement to set in and our hope perishes. This downward spiral can happen so quickly and before we know it, we’re despairing and lost in our emotions and feelings. Our natural man will quickly allow us to go down this path. If we have not been faithful in applying the truths of God’s word to our hearts and lives.

Our sin humbles us and causes us to see what we would truly be without Christ. Yet in the sovereignty of a loving Heavenly Father, even our sin is a tool used by Him to draw us back to Christ! How? By His mercy, He takes His Word hidden in our hearts and through His Holy Spirit, and brings it to mind in our time of need.

What are some of those things He reminds us of when we are fighting for joy, struggling with discouragement, or overwhelmed by our failure to obey? 

• His faithfulness!
• His mercy towards us is new every morning!
• He is our portion (inheritance)! Our joy and peace is found in Him not in people, things, or situations going the way we want them to go.
• We must seek the Lord with our whole heart. He promises to settle and strengthen us.
• Hope and quietly wait for the salvation (deliverance, victory) of the Lord.
• The struggles we face are designed for one purpose – to draw us closer to Christ.
• Don’t resist the working of God in our hearts. We must humble ourselves under His mighty hand and let Him establish, strengthen, and settle us. – 1Peter 5:6

Lamentations 3:18-26 shares the struggle that man has but then beautifully exhorts us to hope and wait till the Salvation of the Lord comes!

“And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

This has been a passage lately that God has used to encourage and strength my walk with Him. How blessed we are to have the ability to read, believe, and dwell in the truth of God’s Word!

7 Comments » | posted in Proclaiming the Truth, Tid Bits

On a sweltering hot day, a group of railroad workers were diligently repairing a railroad track. Work was going smoothly when an unexpected interruption arrived; a train car stopped near them and out walked the President of the railroad. Surprise was written over many of the workers faces which then only intensified as the President called one of them to have lunch with him. The worker smiled and followed the President into the train leaving the other workers in wonder. A few hours later out stepped the worker, shaking hands with the President and giving a hearty farewell. Joining his fellow workers they asked why he had received such a wonderful opportunity?

He responded: "The President and I are good friends, we both began working for the railroad at the same time over twenty five years ago."

"That doesn’t make sense, why is he the President of the railroad and you are out here working with us?" They asked.

"Well it’s like this" He said, "Twenty five years ago I went to work for $2 an hour while he went to work for the railroad"

I’ve always appreciated this story. Not for the story itself but for the powerful analogy that relates so well to our own lives. The way we live, in a way, is similar to how we work for the railroad or anything else for that matter. We are either living life for ourselves or for something bigger than ourselves. We either are living for worldly achievement or  the advancement of God’s Kingdom. As children of God we are commanded to *"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." This commandment leaves us with only one course of action; life is to be lived for the Kingdom of God.  Our purpose is to bring honor and glory to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

On most tombstones, there is a birth date and a death date. In between those two dates is a dash. What will that dash consist of when your tombstone is placed? Will it be full of temporal endeavors, successes, and praise? Or will it consist of eternal relationships, heavenly blessings, and supernatural works of God? The dash’s consistency is dependent on your choices. It is dependent on whether you live for self or live for Christ. The choice is made minute by minute; one to be made now and not tomorrow. When the inclination for passivity rises, reject it and cling to initiating action. Then throw yourself on the grace and wisdom of God to enable you and empower you.

Fellow citizen! You are called to a pilgrimage! Your home is an heavenly kingdom but now your on a journey. Live for your King, live for the advancement of His cause, His glory, and the expansion of His kingdom. Study His laws, understand His vision, and seek His will. Your a pilgrim for such a short time. It’s even as a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Don’t let it be wasted on yourself! Don’t satisfy your foolish desires! Choose to serve Him who created you, gave you life, loves you, and redeemed you. The greatest fulfillment will result from this choice. You won’t look back and regret it. Therefore I write, in agreement with scripture:

Be a faithful pilgrim!

Live for His kingdom!

Live for the Lord – not $2 an hour!

*Matt. 6:33

4 Comments » | posted in Proclaiming the Truth, Tid Bits

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time… (Eccl. 3:11)."

How I rejoice over the faithful prayers of parents for their children. Oh the precious thoughts of a father and mother towards their newly born baby. The vision and desires they hold for this new life. Such love for the dear little one turns their hearts to fervent prayer – prayers for salvation, a tender heart, a love for God’s Word. These prayers continue as the baby grows. They realize the day will come when their precious son or daughter follows the leading of the Lord unto the establishment of the next generation. The day seems so distant, but the loving father & mother lift their hearts in prayer for the future spouse and children of this little one who now sits upon their lap.

The Scriptures say that, ‘Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it (Ps. 127:1).’ ‘For he established a testimony……that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them…. (Ps. 78:5-6).’

Several months ago, I had the joy of approaching a father and sharing with him my heart and how I believed it was the Lord’s will for me to marry his daughter. This began a season of waiting on the Lord’s direction and His perfect timing. His daughter – she had desires but rather than leaning upon her own understanding, she purposed to rest in the loving arms of her Savior. She was at peace with how the Lord would guide and direct.

In God’s timing, He makes everything beautiful. We rejoice to say that through the leading of the Lord and our precious parents, the Lord has confirmed that it is His will for Lisa Butler and I to be united together in marriage.

We are grateful for the way our parents fervently seek the will of the Lord and for the way they have faithfully prayed for their children and the generations to come.

Thank you for the legacy you are laying for the future generations.

27 Comments » | posted in Family News, HIS-story, Photography, Tid Bits

Greetings to all both near and far! How quickly the time flutters by. Our life is truly but a vapor (James 4:14). Thus may we never cease to number our days so that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Ps. 90:12). Over a month has now transpired since our last posting but this has not been without the Lord’s posting of significant events upon the beautiful tapestry of His Sovereign plan. As we sang in church this afternoon, we truly "Stand amazed in the presence of Jesus" our Lord and Savior.

Though the pathway before us uncertain may be, the Lord lights just enough of our pathway before us. As we look over the past 2 months, we rejoice over the evidence of God’s guiding hand and look forward to sharing several of these testimonies in the ensuing posts.

“And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long (Ps 35:28)."

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

The preciousness of each individual member within a family is all too often overlooked until they are absent for even a short time. Jennifer has been absent for the past couple days for a time of service to a dear family down south. The picture up above shows her plane’s current position as of 10 minutes ago, and my are we excited! A special meal featuring one of Jennifer’s favorite dishes has been postponed until we arrive back from the airport. As many as possible will be piling into the van to greet and her at the airport with a good old Virginia welcome!

This brings to mind the importance of never taking for granted the meaningful years spent all together as a family. Some friends up in Connecticut have recognized the brevity of life and so are encouraging others to invest time and energy into those things so many wished to have accomplished earlier in life – like the building of family relationships and memories.

4 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

We rejoice over the work of the Lord in 2009. It was a year full of changes for our country. A year full of Providential encounters. A year full of opportunities to recognize that God is still Sovereign over the affairs of men. As one dear uncle put it, He is not up there wringing His hands over what is taking place on the earth.

The year 2010 comes with an abundance of anticipation, wonder, and excitement. As God’s children, we have been entrusted with the Truth, life changing principles, and inspiring testimonies for to share. We are living stones of remembrance that should spark questions and wonder from the world around us so that many may be drawn to Christ.

With the advent of a new year, many are filled with aspirations for improvement and change. Goals are good, but what will be the steps of action unto the completion of the goals. How do these goals line up with the Word of God, the family vision, and God’s specific call upon your life?

Over this next week, we are looking forward to, as a family, reviewing the goals of last year and setting the sights for 2010. Last year, we found this time to be of great benefit and would encourage every family to spend at least an evening or two planning out definitive goals with as much specific steps of action as you can. It takes time and effort but the rewards are well worth the investment.

Here are two earlier posts that help provide some direction on family goal making:

Ponder, Prepare, Perform

Show me a way to get more things done.

as well, a list of questions for you to review the year with as your finish up your 2009 journals.

May the Lord draw your family closer together this year. May He strengthen your relationships one with another. For as families draw close together around Jesus Christ the church is unified and the world glorifies God.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35).

May each of our families be tools in the Master’s hands unto the proclamation of His name unto the world!

Happy New Year

2 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits