Month: March 2023

Set up signposts (markers) for yourself to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back. Jeremiah 31:21 from The Message

Sometimes I have occasion to watch movies which I have already seen for a second or third time. Invariably there is always something I missed the first time which stands out in the repeated viewing. Such was the case when I watched again the movie Heaven is for Real. The movie is the adaptation of a true story about a small town businessman, firefighter, and pastor, his wife and family who are struggling to make ends meet in a particularly hard year.

The couple’s young son, Colton, undergoes emergency surgery and makes a miraculous recovery. The parents are overjoyed at his recovery, but they are unprepared for what happens next. Colton claims that he has been to heaven and back and begins to describe Jesus and things he experienced there. Everyone is doubtful, but as Colton describes things he’s seen and people he has met which he couldn’t possibly know about unless it were true, he makes believers of his family and eventually many others.

The scene that was especially meaningful this time was set outside their home where Colton and a reporter were discussing why he liked heaven so much. Colton says, “Jesus has markers.” The reporter, as many of us would do, was puzzled at how Jesus could have markers for drawing in heaven. Colton laughs and says, “No, not those. Jesus has markers here as he points to each of his hands and here as he points to each of his feet.” We might refer to these as scars, but from the perspective of a young boy, they were markers.

We all have makers in our lives. While our pathways and viewpoints might differ, we all share the common process known as life’s journey. As we look back over our lives, no matter our age, there are markers there which are/were critical. We mark things such as life decisions, powerful moments that impacted us, or even big changes that we had to make for our career or family. Each of us can look back and reflect on these markers which have made our life what it is today.

What about spiritual markers? Can we look back over our lives and remember instances where there was a big change because of our walk with God? Many people in the Bible set up stones as markers so they could remember the places where God revealed himself to them, spoke to them, or restored them. Along our life path, I think setting markers where we’ve seen God working in and among us is one of the most powerful things to witness and remember.

There are so many instances that all of us can recall when we know that God has done a great work in our midst. For example, I know that there have been times when God protected me from what could have been a disastrous choice in my life, and as I look back, I know God did it! There are times when I considered my life to be a complete mess, but I watched in awe as God untangled the mess and brought beauty from the ashes.

It is said that Jesus carried His own cross for over 2000 feet along the winding route up the hill toward Calvary. In my mind, I picture markers He must have passed along this treacherous route. Markers such as the man who offered him water, those who mocked and jeered, the women who cried as he walked by, and the man who offered to help him carry his cross.

Markers come every day if we only pay attention to them. The story I read recently was a marker for me on forgiveness. The excerpt was about Corrie Ten Boom and her Dutch family who housed and helped Jews during the war. They were eventually discovered, arrested, and put in a prison camp where her father and sister died. Corrie survived and had a sense that God had called her to war torn Germany to share His power.

One evening during a speech she was giving, she saw a man approaching her. He was wearing a grey coat, but she saw him in the German uniform he had worn as a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp. She remembered him as one of the cruelest guards in the prison, but he was now extending his hand to her. He said, “Since Ravensbruck, I have become a Christian. I know God has forgiven me, but I need to hear from your lips this night. Will you forgive me? Corrie prayed to God for strength to grasp his hand, and as she prayed, God’s power flowed through her and she was able to forgive him.”

Jesus’ love is a forgiving love that loves the unlovable. It’s a peace that passes all understanding and comprehension. Each of the markers in our lives was put there for a purpose. The markers exist to help us remember who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised.

The Lord is close to those who are broken hearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

In January, on the occasion of his sixteenth birthday, our grandson Cooper was gifted with a 2005 red truck. The truck was pristine on the inside and outside and ran great until his parents decided to fix it by taking it to the dealership to change the oil and rotate the tires. After the service, the truck began to sputter and stall while driving. The dealership declared that a new engine was needed, but in a conversation with the former owner, it was discovered that there was a mechanic who had always taken care of this truck and he could fix the problem.

This mechanic knew this truck inside and out. Sure enough, he declared that the truck did not need a new engine and was not broken, it only needed the correct oil and some tender loving care! If they hadn’t relied on the knowledge of this mechanic, an engine that wasn’t broken would have been replaced.

There is an old saying that my Daddy loved to use, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Many times we set out to make something that is working, work a little better, but we end up breaking it to the point where it doesn’t work at all. We could end up spending our lives trying to fix something that’s not broken.

On the other hand, when something is broken, we need to fix it. There are many examples, but let’s use our lives in this instance. We tend to spend a lot of our time trying to figure out why our lives are broken rather than getting to work fixing the problem. We ask questions like, “If God is all good, then why is my life broken?” The most difficult thing to understand in life is why is pain, problems, and suffering are a part of it? If we aren’t careful, the “why” can leave us feeling cynical and bitter. If we spend all our time contemplating the “why” it does little to fix the brokenness.

The way we try to deal with broken aspects of our life aren’t new. The Bible gives accounts of Job, Abraham, and Jacob who dealt with brokenness because they tried to live life according to their own plans rather than letting God lead and help deal with their brokenness. The good news is that it is never too late to let God work in our lives and heal the broken parts.

What causes brokenness in our lives? I think it occurs when we try to live life on our own terms, and we come up empty. The Bible shows examples of those whose lives ended up broken because they tried to follow God while they lived their lives according to their own plans.

So, how do we cope with brokenness in our own lives. First, I believe that attitude is important. Attitude is defined as a way of thinking or feeling about someone or something that is typically reflected in one’s behavior. Our attitude is our most powerful asset when dreams are shattered and lives are broken, and it can determine whether we become bitter or better. If we fail to deal with the brokenness properly with the right attitude the emotional wounds will fester and the hurt will multiply. Love is our attitude toward others, faith is our attitude toward God, hope is our attitude toward the future, and forgiveness is our attitude toward the past. Everything revolves around our attitude.

Next, recognize that something is broken and take responsibility for it. The most difficult thing to understand is why pain, suffering, and adversity are part of life. If we remember that God can use whatever comes our way for the greater good, and that God often uses affliction for the greatest growth, then God will use the brokenness for His glory.

Finally, don’t give up on God fixing the broken parts. Just like Cooper’s truck sometimes a different opinion can offer the solution. Instead of working harder to fix the problem on our own, go to the expert and rely on Him to make things right.

Many of us hold onto brokenness in our lives and try to cure it using the same old lifestyle ways instead of reaching out for the new lease on life God offers. Just like the mechanic who knew the truck best and had always loved and cared for it, Jesus is the one we need to turn to when we are broken. He knows us better than any other and cares for us the most. Brokenness doesn’t means hopelessness when we trust God to help fix us!

And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10

There are many times in our lives when we have occasion to deal with the things which we consider of major importance. For instance, our Major in education is the field of study in which we decide to pursue our professional career. Some people choose to minor in a secondary or complementary subject to that field or maybe branch off into a specific hobby or interest. Majors are the subject areas that require commitment to complete for graduation. Minors just compliment the major.

Our lives are full of major occurrences which should receive most of our attention, but sometimes the minor irritations or commitments of life have a way of pushing themselves to the forefront. One of the dangers of this face paced world in which we live is that we become so preoccupied with incidentals, nonessentials and minors that we neglect the fundamentals, essentials, and majors. It is not enough to be busy and active to be alive. We need to be busy for a purpose, active for a cause, and living for an ideal.

Merry go rounds were the favorite part of a carnival which visited our small town once a year. It was probably the only ride where the scenery never changed. We could ride around and around, but in retrospect, all those trips around just revealed the same sights, and it got us nowhere. Life can be a lot like that feeling because we go and go but never arrive. We move all the time, but we get nowhere.

If it is the major things that are so important in life, then the question becomes, why do we spend so much of our lives dealing with the minors? Larry Love, an associate of Billy Graham, saw an unusual and striking advertisement in a subway station while in London. It pictured a very expensive and exclusive copy of a magazine. Underneath the pictures were these words, “Read by an overwhelming minority.” That’s a catchy and clever idea that is so often true.

It’s strange that in government and business the majority rules, but God’s business is often ruled by the minority. What then is the major thing in this life of ours? Is it power? Is it prestige, knowledge, friendship, influence, or popularity? When Randy and I were in high school, our senior class in our respective schools always voted on superlatives such as Most Popular, Friendliest, Most likely to Succeed, etc. Randy’s claim to fame has always been that he was Most Popular. I like to say, “That was then – this is now.” What was major is now minor.

The major thing in this life is that we have a relationship with God and that the welfare of our soul is secure. Everything else is incidental, nonessential, and minor. In other words, if we seek the majors then the minors will be added.

So how do we begin to major in the majors? First, I think we need to put first things first. Sift through the non essentials in life and get to the heart of what God would have us do.

Secondly, major in setting an example for others. The world is changed by our example not by our opinions. Our major should be pointing the world to Jesus not to self service.

Finally, major in love and forgiveness. We have to dwell on the majors that unite us as a family of God and not the minors that divide us.

During these next few weeks of Lent, my prayer is that we begin to dwell on the major things of life and major in them! When we do that, the minors will take a back seat in our lives.

“When God does not supply our motivation, we tend to major in the minors and minor in the majors.” Gary L. Thomas

Six days later three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from inside out right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from His face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with Him. Peter broke in and said “Master this is a great moment. What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah?” While he was going on like this, babbling, a light radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to Him. Matthew 17:1-5 The Message

In this scripture, Jesus was transfigured and the divinity of his nature shows through his humanity. This transformation serves as a reminder to us that we are made in the image of God, and during this Lenten season, we have the opportunity to let our Godliness shine to those around us.

Transformation is defined as a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. We have all known people in our lives (maybe even ourselves) who go through a transformation in appearance, personality, or even their lives. It could be a good transformation, or maybe through hardships and sorrow, it leaves a person visibly worn.

The story is told of Leonardo da Vinci who experienced this type of transformation while looking for someone to sit for his famous fresco of The Lord’s Supper. When he looked for someone to sit as the character of Judas Iscariot, he found just the right person – a man whose worn features mapped a life of despair and disillusionment. As Leonardo went to work, a strange feeling came over him. “I get the feeling we have met before, ” said the artist. “Yes,” replied the man, “I have sat here before. I was your model for Jesus. Since then, I have fallen on bad times and have lost family, friends – everything.” This kind of transformation can happen to anyone.

Recently at Asbury Seminary, the Holy Spirit began a transformation of lives. It started as usual at Wednesday morning chapel. The benediction was pronounced, the choir began a song, but students didn’t leave. They reported a quiet but powerful transcendence of the Holy Spirit and they stayed. During the next days, people from all over came to experience the revival. “There is nothing fancy, loud, or boisterous,” a student reported, “just people praying and experiencing humility, compassion, confession, consecration, and surrender unto the Lord.” A transformation in lives-right here, right now!

People there, just like the Disciples on that day on the mountain, reported wanting to freeze this moment in time, but rather than staying in the moment, it is good that they have begun to transform their lives and spread the experience to others.

So, how do we start the transformation during Lent this year? First, it seems we should seek to be more God centered rather than self centered. If we consider each decision and ask, “Is this for God or for me?” our lives will begin the transformation, and we can spread the spirit of love.

Next, filter out the negative impact of narrow minded people, media, and nay sayers. If we let other forces control us with doubt, dread, fear, insecurity, panic or anxiety, then we are allowing faithlessness to get the upper hand. We need the transformation of a sound mind.

Finally, we need the transformation of fearlessness in our faith. Too many of us live our lives being wishy washy or weak, when we should be filled with power and authority which comes when we walk with ability and meaning in life supplied by the Holy Spirit. When we are secure of who we are in Christ, we have the power of fearlessness.

We are called to be transformers in this world, but in order to transform anyone or anything in this world we need to first experience transformation in our own lives. Be a transformer!