The Tinted Lenses We Look Through

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

Pastor Ed Manning said a woman in his church approached him to ask a question. As she drew closer to him, he tipped his head back to look through the bottom lenses of his bifocal glasses to focus on her more clearly.

“There you go again!” the woman snapped. “You stick your nose up in the air every time I talk to you! Who do you think you are? I’m sick of your arrogant attitude!”

Pastor Manning was stunned by her outburst of anger. “You don’t understand,” he explained. “I’m not sticking my nose up in the air at you. I just can’t see you when you get near me. I’m tilting my head back so I can see you through the bottom half of my bifocals.”

The woman had been harboring resentment toward him, thinking he had been looking down on her. It wasn’t true, but that’s how she viewed their relationship. Pastor Manning looked at her through bifocals, but Kathy looked at him through rejection glasses.

The world is filled with people who misinterpret what they see. It has been a problem since biblical times, when Saul viewed David through jealousy glasses (1 Sam. 18:6-9). Ten spies sneaked into the land of Canaan, looked through inferiority glasses and said, “We became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Num. 13:33). The vineyard workers looked through envy glasses, compared wages per hour, and griped about their pay (Matt. 20:10-16). The Pharisees viewed Jesus through judgmental glasses, trying to find fault with the perfect Son of God (Luke 6:7).

The sinfully-tinted glasses are as many as the corrupt attitudes that contaminate our hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). When we’re pure in heart, it not only clears up our vision to properly see God, but it also helps us see others correctly. www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

June is Humility Month

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

June is Humility Month because “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5). God doesn’t take kindly to those who flaunt themselves and what they do. But don’t take my word for it. On three different occasions Jesus said everyone who thinks of himself as great will be brought down (Matt. 23:12, Luke 14:11, 18:14). When King Nebuchadnezzar lifted himself up, he went insane. When King Belshazzar mocked God by drinking wine from the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple, he died that night. (Dan. 4:30-33, 5:1-30).

And then there’s King Herod Agrippa who died in an unusual way. Acts 12:21-23 tell us: “And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. And the people kept crying out, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”  

The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived 37-100 AD, confirmed this event. “[Herod] put on his garment made wholly of silver … his garment being illuminated by the reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner,” giving him a brilliant appearance. “A severe pain also arose in his bowels in a most violent manner … and [he] said, ‘I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life.’” (Antiquities of the Jews 19.8.2)

Imagine watching this. Herod enters the theatre in a robe of silver. The sun reflects off the silver coat, making him look as if he’s glowing. The crowd cries out that he’s a god, and he receives their worship. Then, at that moment, he falls over dead “because he did not give God the glory.” 

How do we humble ourselves? Simply by yielding completely to God and asking Him take control of our lives. We live according to what He wants and not how we want. Pride always dies when we shine the spotlight on God instead of ourselves. www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

It Would Take a Miracle to Save Their Marrage

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

After 16 years of marriage, Suzanne and Jim Shemwell were ready to call it quits. She confided with friends that it would take a miracle to save her marriage. They constantly argued and divorce seemed like the only option.

But then, on March 5, 2003, they were stranded in a blizzard on a snowmobile trip in Boise National Forest 7,000 feet above sea level. For the next 5 days and nights, they had to rely on each other for their very survival. Trapped on a freezing mountaintop, fighting frostbite and hunger, Jim and Suzanne stopped arguing and began cooperating. They had previously communicated with insults and hateful words, but their desperate situation in the woods made them focus on encouraging and comforting each other. They were finally rescued on March 10, 2003.

Ironically, their experience of being stranded together in the icy forest caused them to appreciate each other like never before. Instead of getting divorced, they decided to renew their wedding vows on March 10, 2004 in Boise National Forest.. Not only were their lives saved on March 10, 2003, but their marriage was also saved. They are still happily married in 2025.

Jim and Suzanne had lost something in their marriage, but then found it again. It reminds me of the parable Jesus told about a woman who lost something valuable in her home. She searched carefully until she found it, and then called friends to share the good news and rejoice (Luke 15:8-9). 

That parable can also apply to homes today. Many couples have lost something valuable and desperately need to find it. First, they must realize they’ve lost something precious. Then they must diligently search together until they find it, and then they will rejoice together. And if they can’t find it in the house, they might need to get lost together in a blizzard on a freezing mountaintop.  www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Where Do You Want the Piano?

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

A new pastor had been hired at a church. He decided to visit the church’s former members in their homes and find out why they had left the church. After the minister knocked on the door and introduced himself, the man invited him into his living room. “Mr. Smith, I’m the church’s new pastor and I’m just curious why you and your wife left the church.”

“Well pastor, there was a big fight at the church concerning where to put the piano. One group wanted the piano on the left side of the church, while another group wanted it on the right side of the church. We didn’t agree with the final decision, so we left the church.”

 

“That’s why you left?” asked the pastor. “Which side of the church did you want it on?” The man thought for a moment, and then yelled to his wife in the kitchen. “Honey, which side of the church did we want the piano on?”

 

An argument can start as a minor disagreement and escalate into a heated brawl, and later we forget what the fight was over. The damage can be avoided by refusing to argue about issues that don’t really matter, such as where to put the piano. Paul writes, “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged” (2 Tim. 2:23-24).

Sometimes it’s better to lose the argument to keep a valuable relationship from being destroyed. “You have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:7). If you want to be a peacemaker—why not let the other person have his or her way, knowing that pleasing God is more important than winning an argument?  

 

William Barclay said, “If the Christian has even the remotest tinge of the love of Christ within his heart, he will rather suffer insult and injury than try to inflict them on someone else.” Since Jesus suffered unjustly for you, why can’t you suffer unjustly for Him?  www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com 

The Passenger Had to Fly The Plane

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

David Gibbs and his friend were in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska flying in a small plane to Anchorage when the pilot passed out. Neither one of the passengers knew how to fly the plane. David sat in the pilot’s seat, but he couldn’t see anything because they were flying in a storm. His friend called on the radio and was connected to Anchorage Emergency. 

The man in the tower said, “I’ve found you on the radar. If you want me to get you home safe, you’ve got to promise me you’ll obey my voice. You can’t see me, but I can see you. If you don’t do what I say, you won’t make it.  

“You’re four minutes away from a mountain. You’re going to crash into that mountain unless you follow my instructions.” David followed his orders and got the plane turned away from the mountain.

The voice continued, “You’re an hour and a half away from Anchorage and there’s a lot of bad weather ahead of you. You’re in for a rough ride. I want you to listen to me and not look outside. I don’t want you to pay attention to the storm, just my voice. If you start watching the storm, you will die. But if you listen to me, I’ll take you through it.”

Later the voice said, “I’m going bring you in down the runway. At the foot of the runway are some lights shaped like a cross. The cross is the way home.” As the plane was coming down to land, David could see the cross. He bounced the plane on the runway and landed safely. When the plane stopped, the pilot woke up! The voice in the tower said, “Thanks for listening. I watch them crash and burn all the time because they won’t follow my voice.” 

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Trust His voice to guide you through life. You can’t see Him, but He can see you.    www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS AMAZING STORY on YouTube 

God Always Has One More Move

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

When former world chess champion Bobby Fischer was a boy, his mother took him to an art museum. Bobby stared at a painting that depicted an older man slumped over a chessboard, and on the other side of the board was his opponent, Satan. Only a few of his pieces were left on the board and Satan appeared to have won. The painting was entitled Checkmate.

His mother had moved on to the next piece of art. She looked back and Bobby was still looking at the painting. “Come now, Bobby, we have to go.” Bobby told her, “But, Mom, the man has one more move.”

 

Genesis 37-50 gives us an example of how the chess game between God and Satan played out in Joseph’s life. God’s move: He gives Joseph two dreams about his future, revealing he would be a ruler. Satan’s move: Joseph’s jealous brothers throw him into a pit in the wilderness. God: He leads Midianite traders along the precise route at the right time. Satan: His brothers sell Joseph to the traders.

 

God: The Lord makes sure they lead Joseph to Pharaoh’s officer, Potiphar. Satan: Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph and he is thrown in jail. God: The Lord gives Joseph favor in jail and makes him prosper. Satan: Pharaoh throws his chief cupbearer into jail with Joseph. God: Joseph interprets the cupbearer’s dream and asks him to tell Pharaoh about his gift of interpreting dreams. Satan: The cupbearer forgets his request, which results in Joseph being locked up for two more years. God: He gives Pharaoh two dreams and the cupbearer remembers Joseph, who interprets the dreams. Pharaoh promotes Joseph to prime minister. Checkmate!

 

Life is full of ups and downs. When things are going well, it looks like God’s winning. When things are going bad, it seems like the devil is winning. But don’t get discouraged. Keep trusting the Lord and remember, God is on your side and always has one more move. Checkmate!  www.makinglifecount.net  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Life Isn't Always Fair

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals

In a NCAA Division II cross-country championship in California, Mike Delcavo and 127 runners came to a fork in the road. Mike and four others took the correct route and veered left. But the majority of runners missed the turn and took the shorter path, which shaved about 1,000 meters off the 10,000-meter race.

Mike and the four runners who followed him soon reunited with the larger pack. Since most of the runners took the shorter route, they were now in the lead. At the end of the race, Delcavo, who was the fastest runner, should have been declared the winner and the other runners should have been disqualified for leaving the correct course.

Because 122 runners took the wrong route, it presented a problem for the officials. How did they resolve it? Even though the race was over, they decided to change the official course route to legitimatize the runners who took the shortcut! Instead of Delcavo finishing first, the official results show he finished 123 out of 128.

The officials solved their problem by changing the rules and turning the wrong course into the right one. The decision wasn’t fair, but it sure made the runners who took the shortcut happy.

We live in an upside-down world that tells us the wrong path is the right one. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). What was believed to be wrong a few decades ago is considered to be right by some people today, and what was considered right is now called wrong. Isaiah said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20).  

It’s easy to follow the large group that’s running the wrong way, but it takes courage to stay on the right path and live for the Lord. Paul writes, “If someone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules (2 Tim. 2:5). And we all should play by God’s rules. www.makinglifecount.net   www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com