Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
Lost and Alone!
Today I’m remembering a John Denver song from my youth. “Lost and alone on some forgotten highway, traveled by many remembered by few. Looking for something that I can believe in, looking for something that I’d like to do with my life.”
Easily Lost
Lost! We all get lost sometimes. Some more than others. I’m good with directions, but not my wife. For Lizzy, getting lost is easy. I’ve learned to enjoy experiencing this with her, because we can go to the same place, but for her it is a new experience. This characteristic seems to have been passed on to our daughter. As a young adult, Whitney coached a dance team. For me, this meant spending lots of time at dance competitions watching the girls on her team compete. We would visit cities all over the mid-west, and, in most years, we would end the season with a trip to Walt Disney World to compete at the national competition. But, there were many competitions to win before arriving at the nationals.
For her this meant, traveling. Often waking up very early, 4:00 a.m., to drive to the city hosting the competition. I remember one morning vividly, because I received a call waking me very early. Lost! She was traveling with her co-coach from our house to Port Huron, MI and they were lost. She had been driving for an hour before she finally called me. I asked her to tell me some roads or landmarks, guideposts that I could use to provide her with directions, to get her back on the path.
She told me what she saw out the car window, a few roads, a building. I quickly realized they were nowhere near Port Huron. They had missed a guidepost along the way, taken a wrong turn early in their driving, and were in downtown… Detroit. Sixty miles from their destination.
Don’t Miss the Guideposts
Sometimes, it is easy to miss the guideposts and get lost in life. Recently, in my morning devotional I read Jeremiah 31:21 and the word guidepost jumped off the page.
“Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns.” – Jeremiah 31:21
Becoming lost or disoriented as a follower of Jesus is a common experience for most of us. As we travel the roads of this life, we are forced to travel new paths. We sometimes feel we have lost our way, our perspective, and our connection to God… and each other. Sometimes, it seems we have traveled a great distance without seeing a guidepost.
What have you prayed for that you feel God has not answered? Do you sometimes feel he is not listening? Do you feel he is not even there, so why pray? Perhaps, you are praying for a job, healing, a spouse, a child, a home, school, etc. and you have become discouraged and feel “lost and alone.” If that is you, Look for a guidepost, a sign to point you to the good things he is doing in your life and the lives of others. I pray that God sends someone to help share their story, the reason for the hope that is within them.
Our Story
Perhaps our own story is the most helpful thing we can give to others. We must share those moments when a guidepost appeared that sent us in a new direction or connected us to paths along the road that led us to God. Since, we are not yet ready to meet in person, because of COVID-19, and offer our testimonies face-to-face, I give you this challenge. I ask you to go on Facebook and respond to this message, writing a comment, sharing a testimony. And, take a moment to read the testimonies of others, and reply to them. I believe this will be a powerful experience for us all.
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men” ( 2 Corinthians 3:2). Let’s open our lives and be God’s epistles today, sharing the testimonies that He has given us.
I am not “lost and alone on some forgotten highway.” I am thankful for the many people who have shared with me their stories and placed guideposts on my path to point me in the right direction. Today, allow the love of God to work through you and demonstrate your care for someone, so the world may know the love of our father.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
I am glad that we are led by
The spirit. Many times I over ride it and things start going awry. I then turn back on the right path and things Go smoothly. I have a dear friend who always says to me why don’t you do it the first time. I say i don’t know. I guess sometimes think I know best, maybe it seem hard or even unusual . It’s not easy to let “Jesus take the wheel,” like the song says.
It is good to have friends who can point us back to God.
I remember the trip to Port Huron that turned into a trip to Detroit!
My testimony is that God gave me four perfect, beautiful, healthy children! I always wanted to be a mom and raise children to know God and be His light in the world. I had an issue with my uterus that prevented me from being able to carry a child, but God sent me an ultrasound technician who discovered it and an amazing doctor who surgically corrected it and helped me through all my pregnancies after that. After my surgery, I had three perfectly healthy babies. Then in my last pregnancy I had the flu a couple times, pneumonia several times, and covid-19. I had high fevers, trouble breathing, and was on antibiotics and steroids. God kept my baby safe through it all and I recovered great and had my fourth perfectly healthy baby. My four children are my guideposts that point me to remembering that He loves me, He is good, He is faithful, He gives me the desires of my heart, and He fulfills His promises to me. I know they will be bright lights in this world for others to see His goodness through them too!
That is a beautiful testimony! My heart is joyful as I remember the struggles you had with pregnancy, but God answered and gave you the desires of your heart.
Jesus
When my youngest daughter was 6 years old, she was hit by a car causing a broken hip and pelvis with internal injuries as well. At the time I felt helpless as a mom. But the Lord brought to my mind to be thankful in the good and bad times which was really hard to do. But my 6 year old, put that into reality as the ambulance was take us to the hospital, she tells the paramedics that, “My mom told me that if I say Jesus, it won’t hurt so bad, so she starts yelling Jesus. The Drs. diagnosis was probably she couldn’t have children and didn’t know if she would walk again. But because of that unshaken faith , she is now 34 yrs old has 2 beautiful children, and can walk a marathon. Just the name of our Lord, Jesus is all we need to get through.
Wow, I never knew any of this. This is a powerful testimony!
When ever I feel lost and alone I gaze at a sunset. Sunsets in Boyne are special to me and very beautiful. I was holding my mothers hand in the ICU when she was in her last hours. Her room had a very large picture window on the bay in Petoskey. I watched to sunset on her body one last time. The bright lite shined on her frail body. This was one of the most beautiful moments in my life.
Ever since that day I look at sunsets in a different way. I am reminded that every day is a gift. I often walk or ride down to the lake to capture a sunset or look out my window here in the winter and I always thank God for this day and remember Mom.
Most recently I was on vacation with my daughter and grand daughter who was truly a gift. We went to the ocean for the sunset as many do. My daughter and I lifted this Miracle child to the sun. As I held Estella we gazed at the sun and she actually reached for the sun. Somehow I think she knows the power of God. As long as I am around to see a sunset I will never feel lost and alone for every day is a gift. ❤️🌞
The story of your mom was s a wonderful testimony. I wish everyone I know could hear you tell it. Estella will carry your mother’s smile to the next generation.
Philippians 4:8 serves as a guidepost for me. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/php.4.8.niv
This verse is printed on a plaque that I view every day to remind me to choose to think on all that is good. If I do so, not only will I be following His command, but my spirit will be lifted as well.
Where is this plaque? I need to copy your habit.
It is right next to the television. You look at it every day. You only need to see it.
Hidden in plain sight!
It is wonderful reading others comments about there testimonies about there trials and tribulations. I remember looking for a church, the lord lead me to this strange church. They had a very strange paster and a whole church full crazy people.
They was speaking strange words and they was yelling as well.
I set in the back so I could be the first one to run out.
Well one Sunday I became one of those crazy people that is crazy for the lord. My life hasn’t been the same since.
That has been about 20 years ago. Thank you Jesus for always being there for me every step of the way
20 years! You are Tritons of the crazies now.
Devin Daye
The Girl and A Dirt Bike
Growing up in church and always having what I feel was a strong connection with God, as I got older I found myself slipping away and moving closer to worldly things. I found myself battling with addiction, questioning my sexual identity and moving further away from a man that God wanted me to be. I’m not always open on some topics because I find them embarrassing as a man, but I know lots of other people like me struggle with the same thing. I never thought I would change and I never wanted to change, but God kept hinting that something Needed to be done. And God definitely found a way to help me change!!!!! Growing up racing motocross, it was my favorite hobby everything I did when I was little had to do with a dirt bike. And after 10 plus years of forgetting what I loved so much. I found myself with the bug on day at work. People talking about dirt bikes and people at my work with dirt bike, it was like I was 10 years old again! Around the same time i came across a girls profile online, she seemed like everything I was looking for smart, talented and a strong connection with God. And even being voted The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. After wondering if she was even real, let alone wondering if I would ever get the chance to meet her. God gave me the opening!!!!!! But then I made a huge mistake!!! I lost the faith. I found myself bartering with God hoping that every little thing I did might make it official, instead of trusting in God like I did so much just moments before I met her. In the end, I can’t complain I always can look back on these things and remember how much God wanted to help me, and how sometimes we have to meet God halfway if we can’t something. God always will answer our prayers to change a situation and something he also uses a situation to help change us!
So true! This a testimony many young people need to hear.
I always felt a void in my life. I always tried fulfilling it by buying new things it was only a temporary fix. It wasn’t until I excepted Jesus into my heart and making Him first in my life that the void was no longer there. Now I look at life so differently .He is my everything and if you make Him the center of your life you will not be alone or feel any emptiness .
This is a wonderful testimony. The fulfillment you found is something that everyone needs. If people hear your testimony, they would want Jesus too.
Pingback: Choose Kindness - Pastors to Pastors
Pingback: Choose Kindness - Inspirational Hope
Pingback: Choose Kindness - Inspired 2 Hope