God's Time Machine

I am searching for something…in the far corners of my mind. With a tiny flashlight of expectant hope, I am pushing memories around, stirring up years of brain dust, leaving footprints on the floor of my mind looking for a time machine…God’s Time Machine.

Ah yes, there it is. Buried deep among years of collected thoughts, sights, dreams, failures, hopes and experience. I find it needs some care. I apply gentle cleansing powder of honesty, some squirts of childhood oil, while checking the springs of cherished family and friends and tightening all the lose nuts, bolts and ends of memories too long neglected.

I’m ready to hop on God’s Time Machine and go back to visit those who lead me to the Lord. In my mind, I see ordinary people, no one special. All filled with God’s spirit, love and care, who came up beside me and held my hand, hugged my heart, soul and body. They shared God’s word, His love, His kindness, His expectations, and His discipline. People who cared enough to disciple this wild, unruly, worldly misfit, imprisoned in a cell of sullied theology, materialism, anger and disillusionment. They shared the truth and the truth set me free.

Church, Sunday school, small bible studies, retreats and most importantly home groups is where I was led and fed. Many moments , hours and days of prayer, meals, breaking of bread in communion, tears, laughter, birth, death, hardships and blessings…all shared while teaching me peace, rest, trust, kindness, and how to grow strong by the streams of Living Water.

Growth is often painful…the strong spiritual bones and muscles forged from discipline were often difficult and unwelcomed at times. But my faithful (and determined) disciples who would not let me merely dabble or fake my way in spiritual exercise….they walked the talk and took me with them on the treadmills of their experience, knowledge and holiness. The saw pass the problems, pimples and poutiness of my spiritual adolescence and saw the potential.

There was Doy, Kathy, Marty, Keith, Karen, Greg, Robbie, Debbie, Ruthann, Dan, Carol, George, Diane, Wendy, Joanie, Carl, Bill, Hoppy, and many more. All once strangers that God had cross my path. Now they are dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Some have gone home to the Lord already; they will be there to greet me when God calls me home. Some moved away and I have no idea where they are. Others I still have the blessing of talking with and sharing. This I know...that I will spend eternity with all of them. That is an awesome and thrilling thought that gives me hope and an assurance of a glorious future.

Those wonderful disciples planted, others watered and God caused great growth in me…all for His glory. They taught me well how to reach out to another and over the years I have worked with God in what He has initiated, inspired and included in my life. What an honor, privilege and blessing.

Will someone someday pull their God’s Time Machine out of their forgotten corners of memories and write my name in a journal or story as one who shared the truth that helped set them free? Will someone share how I hugged, loved, and gave them a glimpse of peace, rest, and trust? Will someone remember how I stood beside them and helped a little with their growth?

I pray so…

God’s Time Machine is creeping to the here and now…today…and ready to go into the future. To reach out and disciple someone for God’s glory and honor. I am excited about those He has already in mind to cross my path. I look forward to coming up beside someone with love and care, to hold a hand, and hug a heart, soul and body... and share the precious life saving and spirit freeing Jesus Christ and His Word.

God’s Time Machine is cleaned, oiled, tightened and ready to go wherever God sends me….to whomever He wants me to touch…to join Him in His experience of calling others to Him while using me to touch them in some small way. Me, an ordinary woman, no one special but who so desires to do for another what so many others have done for me over the years.

Have you looked for God’s Time Machine in your life? We all have one. Find it and do a little gentle cleaning, oiling and tightening, and look back and remember those who helped you along the way. Then reach out to another in discipleship. Join God where He is and in His experience with precious ones…the time spent with another is such a blessing and never wasted time while riding God’s Time Machine.

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