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| What Happened to my Life? |
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This evening was definitely a time for reflection for me. I celebrated my 25th birthday for the 14th year in a row. It is sort of my personal Groundhog Day (You remember the show with Bill Murray). Birthdays often spur me to analyze where have I been, where am I at, and where am I going? When Michelle and I got back from celebrating my birthday at Outback Steakhouse, I went to my office to unpack some books in order to put them in my new bookshelf. So, in order to make this delightful chore a little more enjoyable, I got online and downloaded a talk from one of my favorite speakers, Dr. Ravi Zacharias. During the talk, he gave a marvelous illustration about God’s love that spoke to my heart. The illustration illuminated for me the importance of living out the reality of God’s love, and the consequences of not doing so. Zacharias states,
Eugene Peterson in his book Running with the Horses, talks about the time he was an associate pastor working in the city of New York, and the janitor in that particular church was a man by the name of Willie Olsom He was only a janitor by night, but was a professional artist by day, trying to make a living. Peterson decided to befriend this man, but did not know how to do it. So he decided to ask him if he would do a portrait of him. So he did. When Olsom had finished the painting his wife came into the room and screamed out, “There is no resemblance between Him and this painting.” Finally Peterson went over and looked at the picture and saw hard, coursed features. There was no compassion in the eyes. There was no pathos in the expression. There was no tenderness in the smile. And Peterson looked at Olsom and said, “Why have you painted me this way? This is not the way I think I look. The artist said, “I have painted you the way I would picture you if the love of God ever departed from your life.” The artist went on to say, “I want you to keep this picture as long as you live, because the more you begin to resemble the picture, the more you will know that you have lost the love of Christ within your heart. Peterson said he has kept that picture in His closet in order to remind him of what he might look like devoid of the indwelling presence of God.
After I heard Ravi give this illustration, I began to compare in my mind my life before Christ and my life after conversion. You see, prior to coming to Christ 18 years ago, my life was characterized by anger, drugs, and alcohol abuse. But one night, while watching the 700 Club after coming home from an AA meeting, Pat Robertson was used of God to lead me to the Lord. From that day until now, I have witnessed God do some amazing things. It’s been over 18 years since I have had a drink. I have been married to my best friend, Michelle, for almost 15 years and I could not be happier. Everyday I see the promise that was given to me while at Lee University many years ago, that God would restore everything that the locusts had eaten. God has filled me with His love and made my crooked paths straight. The following song typifies how you and I can continue to walk as someone who reflects the love of God.
I need You more
More than yesterday
I need You Lord
More than words can say
I need You more
Than ever before
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than the next heartbeat
More than anything
And Lord as time goes by
I'll be by Your side
Cause I never want to go back
To my old life | | Right here in Your presence
Is where I belong
This old broken heart
Has finally found a home
And I'll never be alone |
© 1996 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
Thus, we live out God’s love by seeking to be closer to Jesus. As you and I do this, we shield ourselves from the old life and thus avoid living like the old picture that once characterized our life.
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Gene |
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October 20, 2007 at 7:18pm |
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Amen.
To me it's like being blind and deaf to the things that lead me astray. They're still there, but I don't notice them. The shielding you mentioned. This is all part of dieing to self....which happens when you live for Christ. |
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Hi Tim, Very good point that we should think about us every day and every moment of our lives. This is required for all of us always. I will remember this! Thanks for the nice blog |
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Tina |
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October 20, 2007 at 7:24pm |
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| god is amazing ! i loved this blog thank you for reminding me im not the only one that stopped aging i have been 21 for 22 years ! god bless |
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Gene, Mike, Ragland, Tina thanks so much for your comments!
Gene, I love your illustration!
Mike, thanks! Is it ok to stop counting at 25?
Ragland, thanks for your kind words!
Tina, maybe I should have stopped counting at 21. 21 felt a little better than 25 did. lol |
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| I have to bring myself to remember things in my past because I'm so unlike that person that died in 1991. I don't know where I would be without Jesus. Shalom! |
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JayKTX |
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October 20, 2007 at 8:33pm |
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| Good blog. And I love that song! |
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Sweet Marie & JayKTX, that is one of my favorite songs as well. Since I am challenged in the singing department, I sometimes ask my wife to sing it. It always compells me to worship Jesus.
Prophet Jay, I am with you there. I have seen how my friends lives turned out who are not walking with the Lord. All I can say is for the grace of God there go I.
Arlene, I love your sense of humor. My body sends me signals everyday, but I just ignore them. It like living next to a railroad track. Sometimes you hear the train so often you drown out the sound. I have learned to drown out the sound. lol |
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Jen |
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October 20, 2007 at 9:44pm |
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| Good blog! Happy Birthday!! |
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| Thank Jen. I am 25 again today! However, my body is telling me a different story. lol |
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Brent |
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October 21, 2007 at 2:15am |
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Happy Birthday Brother! Great to hear of your HIStory, because of HIS (Jesus's) salvation HIS story in your life is a blessing to me indeed. I have someone close in my life that has struggled with this since he was 10 and has served time. To know you have been free of it gives me hope. I need to remember the lessons of the painting I never want to emulate as well. Thanks for sharing this. Your brother in Christ, Brent |
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Pastor Tim, God is going to do amazingly great things in your life and ministry in the days to come. It is just a beginning only. It is just blossoming for His glory. Enlarge your tent.
Job Anbalagan |
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Deb |
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October 21, 2007 at 12:21pm |
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| Great message Pastor Tim. I think we all get a little reflective at birthdays, at least I know I do. I am 25 also, but my body tells me otherwise. Who knew how many aches and pains could come at this young age? Many blessings to you. Thank you for being here, and for sharing your words of wisdom with us. |
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Pastor Tim,
Forgive me, I missed your birthday. Happy, Happy Belated Birthday! Isn't it wonderful how you can be 25 or whatever age you desire for eternity.... In Christ.... who's counting?
Pastor Aminata |
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| Happy birthday!! You and I have similar dates-mine is today! :o) |
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Joey |
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October 21, 2007 at 1:13pm |
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I needed today. Thanks |
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Yes, by all means!! I stopped at 39! lol |
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Thanks Brent! God has been very gracious to me. I will be praying for your friend.
Larry, it is evident that God has done a lot in your life. You have a wonderful testimony.
Restore, you are right. Technically, my birthday is on Monday, October 22nd. My wife teaches as an ajunct Spanish instructor on Monday at the local university so we decided to celebrate it over the weekend.
MaKelly, thanks sister!
Job, I really appreciate the encouragement. I am definitely ready to enlarge the tent!
Deb, birthdays always cause me to reflect too. I remember when I turned thirty (I mean 25 for the fifth year in a row). That was a tough one. However, it has been fine ever since. I actually look forward to them now.
Pastor Aminata, in heaven I will be 25 years old, 6 feet 6 inches tall, 225 pounds, with a 50 inch vertical leap. I am sowing it in prayer now! lol
Kristen, Happy Birthday!
Joey, I am glad that it ministered to you.
Mike, you're not 39 yet are you? |
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WOW~ Ravi's story about the picture reminds me of the story I heard once that Da Vinci's model for Jesus and Judas in "The Last Supper" were one and the same person. . . separated by many years and many sins. (There is, of course, the idea that this story is just a legend, but still. . . ) LindaSue (PS: Happy Birthday!) |
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| Linda Sue, I noticied that you attend the Caring Center. I was the interim pastor there when it was first planted. It truly is a small world. |
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Brent |
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October 21, 2007 at 7:39pm |
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Pastor Tim, thanks for those prayers. There is nothing that can break through his addiction except the power of God. Many things have been tried, we thought he has healed a couple of years ago, and then he went off the wagon. Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I so appreciate your prayers. I am so blessed to have brothers and sisters in Christ like I do here as well as my own local fellowship. Thanks! |
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| Pator Tim, I think you have an advantage over a lot of folks. You came to Christ as an a adult at a truely low point in life. You understand the depth of God's redeeming grace. Your ministry is not merely a profession, but a mission. Many people who read this may not understand the depths of it, but I believe you will. Thanks for the encouragement. |
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Glenn |
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October 22, 2007 at 12:01pm |
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Amen Pastor Tim, thanks for sharing. |
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Brent, I will continue to pray for your friend!
Brad, thanks Brad for the kind words. It will be 18 years of sobriety on Wednesday. I cannot tell you how overwhelmingly grateful I am to the Lord for what He has done. Prior to coming to Christ, I thought deliverance was impossibility. However, because of God's grace, I get to live out a life everyday that I don't deserve.
Thanks Glen! |
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Denise |
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October 22, 2007 at 4:14pm |
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| I don't want to go back to that old life.....That line says it all......wonderful blog Pastor Tim... Thank you so much |
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| Thank you for sharing and apologies for the late Happy Birthday! It is always great to celebrate the end of a great year God has given us and the beginning of yet another year to serve and honor him for the sacrifices He made for us and the gift of life He gave to us. I never care to return to the life I had before Christ as i'm sure many others feel the same. Praise God he is so great and mighty and Thank You God for all the wonderful things you do in our lives each and everyday. Many blessings, prayers and much love in Christ to you and Michelle. |
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| Thanks Margaret. God is so good to us. May God continue to bless you and Gary! |
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suzanne |
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November 06, 2007 at 9:30am |
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| Hi, Pastor Tim. I am a recovering alcoholic, and I just want to share how your blog encouraged me today. By the grace of God, help of A.A. and also Christian freinds, I just celebrated 1 year, 8 months of sobriety this month. God bless you, your wife and family, and your ministry. |
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