MARKERS

Week Twenty-Two, 2022

There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. – Genesis 12:8

Certainly, you have seen them. They were invented about fifty years ago by Sidney Allen “Al” Heenan, who was named inventor of the year for his contribution to automobile safety. They are now standard installations of all major roads and highways. White reflectors are placed along white traffic lines; yellow reflectors are placed along yellow traffic lines. Red reflectors tell drivers they are going the wrong way up a one-way ramp or that they should not enter. Blue reflectors mark fire hydrants. There is one of those in front of my house.

The Bible has many markers. Abraham built an alter and so did Isaac. They were markers to identify significant events in God’s journey through spiritual history. In our lives there are spiritual markers that denote our spiritual journey through life. They are things, events, that remind us of significant events, truths, seasons or decisions in our lives.

Spiritual markers are reminders. Reminders of life altering events, or major decision taken at various points in our lives. They are markers of God’s activity. Like Noah building an altar after the flood (Gen 6-8). Or feasts that remind us of specific events that have spiritual significance, like Passover for the Israelites. They mark His ongoing activity in our lives in different ways. We notice that we leave the experience a stronger or different person for the better. We may not always feel stronger immediately after the event or season, but with the passing of time we look back and say: “Hey, look how God used that in my life.” Even if it is the worst experience of our life, with time, we look back and see that God made it something beautiful in or lives.

As we remember the events and circumstances around our spiritual markers, our own faith is bolstered and strengthened. You know it is a significant spiritual marker if you find that you share it often, this normally indicates that it had significant impact on you. One such example is in 1 Sam 7:1-12 where Samuel put up a stone to remind the people that “God has helped us” against our enemies.

Spiritual milestones are those acts where we take a step in the process of spiritual formation, steps we take as we are being transformed to the image of Jesus Christ. As we grow spiritually we begin learning to discern God’s voice.

What are the spiritual markers in your life?

Lord help me to identify the spiritual markers in my life and in so doing develop spiritual memory in my walk with You. As I remember these events help them to strengthen my faith and keep me consistently on the path. Also help me to share with others, so that they too may benefit from my walk with You. Thank You Father that you are constantly working in my life and that these markers are reminders to me that I belong to You and my future is secure in You.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

We have a decision to make…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 NIV

Living for Jesus is challenging,

but accepting Him as Lord and Savior is imperative…

and is as simple as ABC:

A – Acknowledge that you have sinned: “Sin” means “missing the mark.” For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (Romans 3:23).

B – Believe in Jesus: Believing in Jesus is more than just knowing that He exists. It is placing total trust and faith in Jesus. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).

C – Confess Jesus as Lord: Confessing Christ means accepting His plan for your life. If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God raised Christ from death, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

“Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person that you want me to be. In Your name I pray. Amen”

If you’ve prayed this and it resonates, reach out to others who are following Jesus, and talk through it, pray through it. It will be the greatest decision of your life.

Marty Stubblefield

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You won’t find the solution to your problems by looking at other people or yourself. Direct your thoughts away from the problem and put them on God; away from your own weaknesses and onto His strength. You need to remember that God loves you and is in control of the circumstances that surround your life. Dan Shock

2 Timothy 1v7

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A god is anything you look to for good in your life, anything you count on, bank on, or trust in for you for your well-being. It is the thing you grasp or hold on to make life work. Ken Whitten

When fighting a “culture war,” should we be passivists or activists? The answer is yes. Jim Denison

How do we get to the end of our lives with minimal regrets? We choose well. We set aside lesser pursuits to seek meaning in our lives. And we do it every single day.” Joshua Becker

With your eyes closed, answer this, “If you were to die today, what is the one project you would be most disappointed that you weren’t able to complete?” The Minimalist

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway

Giving money and power to the government is like giving whiskey and care keys to teenage boys. P.J. O’rourke

The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed. Henry Ford

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. Henry J. Kaiser

Fear is the enemy. Fear is of the enemy. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear makes us think, “What if I don’t…” Marty Stubblefield

The really unhappy person is the one who leaves undone what they can do, and starts doing what they don’t understand; no wonder they come to grief. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There are three faithful friends – an old wife, an old dog, and ready money. Ben Franklin

If you don’t know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn. Ann Rand