Playing the memory card game with a four-year-old is different: when he picks up a card, he wants to keep looking til he finds the match. If I pick a card he really likes, he wants me to surrender it to him so he can find the match. He also likes to win or we both win – no other options.
Someday soon I will have to start ‘winning’ some of the games I play with him. He will probably cry. But what service would I be doing him if I didn’t allow him to experience loss and failure with me in preparation for what is to come?

About 2,000 years ago a brash young man had to learn some hard lessons. He probably thought he had already had his fair share. He was a fisherman for a living and that wasn’t always easy. Living under Roman oppression was no picnic either. Then came Jesus.
Peter believed with all his heart that Jesus was God’s Son, Messiah. So, he followed Him through thick and thin for three years. Then one night Jesus was arrested and when they asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ followers, he quickly replied: ‘no way’. Then his eyes met those of Jesus and heartbreak, like no other, overcame him. He wept bitterly thinking there was no chance of a do-over.

But that’s not how things are with the Savior. Peter is the one God used to start the Christian church after Jesus was crucified. The one the Holy Spirit spoke through in Peter’s first sermon – and more than 3,000 were brought to salvation.
Peter teaches us in his second letter to Christians that there are a few things we need to add to our faith: “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness…knowledge…self-control…perseverance…godliness…brotherly kindness…love.” (2Peter 1:5b-7 NIV) He also tells us why we need to be adding these things: “For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Peter 1:10b-11 NIV)
Peter learned a lot from that bitter night. And now he shows us how we can never fall – have a rich welcome – and have eternity! There will be no more hard lessons someday – only a forever of discovery. Searching out the depths of the Creator and His creation await all who accept Him.

This is a hurting world. Broken, lost, trying to breathe. All around the effect of centuries of sin – and its relentless pursuit – swirl. As I write, a friend’s adult son fights for his life – a fall at work left him with a broken skull and his mother clings to God. Babies in the hospital unexpectedly, more moms (dads, grandparents, friends) on their knees.
“I think of You through the watches of the night…My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:6b & 8 NIV)
What of those in similar circumstances, or worse, who don’t know God? How do they keep their sanity? What is their hope?

We speak of ‘heart’ for all manner of emotions. Over and over God refers to our hearts in the Bible.
Here’s an amazing thing: when He takes hold of us (and we let Him), He actually gives us a new heart. Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, He speaks of taking our hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts that are fresh and clean and usable by Him.
“For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Romans 10:10 NLT)

Honestly, I don’t know how one navigates all that life holds without truly knowing God and knowing the Hope He has given us. “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You.” (Psalm 39:6-7 NLT)
So, a transplant is what this weary world needs. Hearts transplanted and replaced with ones that beat for Jesus and rely on His power and strength. Ones that can weather the tragedies and still say: ‘it is well with my soul’.
For someday these bodies will fail, but those with transplanted hearts from God will again walk and never grow weary, and there will be no more tears (or moms whose pain is not fathomable). “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” (Psalm 73:26 NLT)

So easy to live like we believe when all is well. Right now I’m in the all is well – no major crisis, heartache, or fear. But where will my belief be when…
When things aren’t so easy. A friend is walking through ALS with her husband. Prayer request came through, he was struggling. Another friend took care of a father-in-law in his last months doing things for him she had never imagined she would find herself doing.
I’ve seen these and others walk hard life things – like friends, much too young to die, lose their battle to cancer. And I wonder, how will I walk through the next hard life thing?

You know the story of the father whose son was possessed by a demon. Constantly hurting himself. A father worn out from the daily struggle, worn out from the worry. Then Jesus is near. Last hope, last resort – he asks: “if you can do anything, have compassion”.
If – such a big word looms. In the seconds between the father’s plea and Jesus’ proclamation, hung all of mankind’s questions. Can you Jesus? Will you?
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23 NIV)

I’m that father, so are you: ‘If you can Lord, please do.’ And what we don’t get is this: He has. Doesn’t always look like what we asked. But someday we will see how perfect the answer was. Know how I know?
Because He’s told us.: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.“ (Mark 11:24 BSB)
Even our unbelief He can fix that too. Maybe we can’t see the answer yet, maybe in this life we won’t see it at all. But someday we will see clearly. For in eternity more than all we could ever ask or imagine is Yes as we proclaim Amen – “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”. (2Corinthians 1:20 NIV) He is for us all the time!
I love makeovers – an old house becomes dream home. Sepia tone photos restored in color. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. The old or unsightly made new.
Lots in our world could use a makeover: tyrannical or corrupt governments, crime torn communities, false religions, sick or crippled bodies – most of all dark hearts full of self. Hearts that, laid bare, show only a desire to gratify a hunger for power, wealth, dominance, fame, the world’s treasures. Even the hearts of “good people”, whose concern and love only manifest when it’s convenient.
Even you and me. Jesus came so the old could be made new. Transformation of hearts and souls. “So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to – the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self.” (Ephesians 4:22-23a GNT)

Little ones want to be big. Tall like mom, strong like daddy. In a hurry to change from dependent to independent. If only they knew what us ‘big’ people know – it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Because not only do bodies grow up, but also minds and attitudes.
And the result of those who feed on what satisfies self is all around us. From the first man and woman to you and I – uncontrolled by faith in God, we will always end up needing someone to pick up the pieces.
“The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10 GNT)

It’s a life-long process, this transformation. But a life walked with Jesus will result in a makeover. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” (Romans 12:2 GNT)
Before and after – once we were lost, now we are being made new day by day. These bodies may be aging and crumbling, but our spirits are growing and changing. We need a metamorphosis not hidden in cocoons, but lived out in ways that show Messiah is our King.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

Perspective… My four year old grandson napped at my house from the time he was four months old. His room had heavy window coverings to make it nice and dark (and hopefully give gwammy a short break).
This week we took everything out, window coverings off, painted the walls – ready to turn it in to a Little Man Cave for three grandsons. He went into the empty room and looked towards the window: “Wow – gwammy, did you move the house? How did those trees get there?” He never saw beyond the curtain.
Is this us or what? We judge people, circumstances, everything based on our limited view. We also frame our relationship, or lack thereof, with Jesus based on our limited view.

This is why it is so very important to look beyond headlines, news clips, fake smiles delivering false promises. Beyond textbooks and educators with agendas. To seek the truth, because it can be found. To look beyond the curtain that unbelievers and our enemy use to block our view.
“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:19 NLT)
It’s also why it’s important that our Bibles aren’t something we dust off only when cleaning house. It’s a living book, new with each reading, brimming over with all we need for life – now and in eternity.

I recently wrote to older grandchildren and told them that not reading the Bible and saying they know Jesus, is like getting married someday but never speaking to your spouse after the wedding.
God wants us to k-n-o-w Him. He’s made it possible. Not some god that has rituals, traditions, icons, etc.; not one who we fail based on a set of laws. “…we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19b-22 NLT)
Jehovah, the God of the universe – Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind – and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us – want us to experience their presence in our hearts and souls now – and in forever. Our Father wants us talking with Him daily and promises, through His Word, to talk with us. He ripped the curtain top to bottom, because He wants us beyond the curtain.

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