Category: Marcus Larabie Stories

I was recently nominated for a writing award and attended the Gala Awards ceremony with hundreds of other writers. Some, like my brother, John, and I were finalists in numerous writing categories of work we completed in 2015. Others were there to support friends and family, were event sponsors or were attending the writing conference connected to the Gala.

Finalists feel a mix of emotions when they attend such events. I know I did. If you’re nominated, you feel grateful for the recognition as you’ve probably told others about the nomination and you’re excited about the possibility of going from “Finalist” to “Winner!” But you also harbour some trepidation because statistically there’s always a better chance of losing than winning when you are one of a number of nominees. If you’re not The Winner, you’ll be one of The Losers. The final applause from the audience will not be for you.

So why enter such a competition

You enter a writing competition because you believe that you’ve written a compelling piece that will be recognized by the judges. By being selected as a finalist, you have met their criteria. So what’s the problem. I believe it’s our human condition. We all have some desire to be recognized and applauded for our work. It doesn’t matter if it’s writing, gardening or our regular occupation. We’d like people to say we’ve done a good job. If they say we’ve done a great job, that’s even better. When judges at a writing competition ultimately select someone else, there’s a tendency to think that nominee’s work was great but mine was merely good. I was reminded by one of the judges that my hypothesis is incorrect.

The judge says

But hold on to that envelope please! Before I tell you what the judge said, let me explain one crucial element of this story. This competition was part of The Word Awards sponsored by The Word Guild, a Canadian organization dedicated to “encouraging, equipping and empowering writers and editors who are Christian.” If you join this organization, you must agree with the statement of faith based on the Apostle’s Creed. You can write on many topics and crossover into secular writing but you identify as a Christian even though you may not choose to write on a purely Christian theme. You are writing though because you feel this is God’s calling on your life. So ultimately, God is your judge. He is the One you are writing for. He is the one who decides your personal story arc. Your role is to follow His guidance.

So if God has called you to write, than you should write. Competitions like the Word Awards are a wonderful recognition for the many Christian writers who are doing great work throughout Canada and abroad. But I don’t believe an award should be a Christian writers’ ultimate goal. Our goal should be connected to His plan for our lives. A Christian’s writing—as you are directed by God’s soft whisper or strong direction—should be connected to the Almighty’s hand as He directs your own. And I’m sure other Word Guild members believe this as well. Let me explain how this played out in my life.

Marcus story

My shortlisted blog article was about my grandson, Marcus, who had died at fourteen in a car accident on Boxing Day in 2014. Marcus had made a confession of faith on Boxing Day 2009 and I had read his conversion story What God Wants for Christmas on Boxing Day 2010 at my church as part of a four Sunday reading series I had written for Advent.

Did you notice the day that kept repeating itself? Boxing Day is a definite link in this story but it’s not the only one God whispered in my ear. Or perhaps He shouted. I’m not sure. But I do know God wanted this story told.

What He wanted me to know

I shared Marcus’ conversion story in 2010 and it lay dormant. I had no idea that four years later that story link would have such an impact on so many. As our family struggled with Marcus’ death we were reminded that while we were grieving we could celebrate his promotion to heaven. It gave me great joy to have been part of Marcus’ conversion but more comfort to know he was in Jesus’ arms. I had an incredible peace— a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)—that I believe God gave me as we navigated the loss of our grandson. My daughter’s pastor linked the story to his message at Marcus memorial service. And then, less than a week later, an eternal link would occur on the other side of North America that would cement for me God’s sovereign plan in Marcus story.

Marcus story in Haiti

Our friend Laura Mawhinney has been involved in medical missions work in Haiti with Project Aftershock, an organization she founded in 2010. She shared Marcus story in Haiti in January 2015 with a number of orphanages and sixty children accepted Christ as their saviour! This was the story I was nominated for by the Word Guild judges.

Again, I was struck that God wanted our family to know Marcus story is continuing to be told. This was another confirmation of His plan. So while I may not have been the ultimate winner in the Article – Blog category, I do not believe I lost. I believe if God is directing my writing I am winning. This is when not winning is winning. No earthly award trumps God’s heavenly reward.

God in the fine print

And the most recent confirmation of God’s perspective on my story came near the end of the Awards Gala when James M. Houston won the Leslie K. Tarr Award for lifetime achievement. He’s 93 now and was the first president of Regent College in Vancouver. He taught with C.S. Lewis at Oxford before coming to Canada. He put the whole awards in context when he ended his acceptance speech with, “We need to exercise humility of our heart for the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ and so our applause is to Him, and Him alone.” Dr. Houston reminded us all who should be thanked.  The God of the universe loves each one of us and the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, for our sins so that we can have eternal life is where our applause should be.

So while I continue to write—and even enter other writing competitions to increase my story exposure if that is what God wills—I want to follow the Apostle Peter’s advice: “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)

If God is in the fine print, you are winning.

Just after Marcus Larabie’s death, I gave Laura Mawhinney, Project Aftershock-Haiti’s Founder and Director, a “What God Wants For Christmas” interactive nativity set with book and Marcus’ picture and his salvation story (which you can read here at my website.) She was going to use these items to tell the Jesus story and share Marcus’ story in Haitian orphanages with the street children and youth that live there now.

The following is what happened today (January 8, 2015) in Haiti . . .

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I just got off a Skype call with Laura Mawhinney and Christina Bailey. They were calling from Haiti. And they were excited!

Yesterday, the package I had put together for Laura arrived by FedEx. It was God’s perfect timing because today they were speaking to many children and youth. They shared the Christmas story with the first six gift boxes and then let the kids open and see the mirror in the seventh gift box.

Laura said they spoke to the girls in the orphanage first. There were about 25-30 girls from 4 – 15 listening to Billy, the Creole interpreter, retell the story in their language. One young girl sat on Laura’s lap and looked at the mirror and was the first to ask Jesus into her heart. Many of the older girls said they already knew Jesus. Then Billy read them my account of Marcus’ salvation story, showed them his picture, and slowly the older girls started to confess that they didn’t really have Jesus in their hearts. One by one they came forward to look in the seventh gift box, see themselves and they asked Jesus into their hearts. They wanted to be sure they would go to heaven like Marcus. I believe all but one girl prayed to receive Jesus with Laura, Christina and Billy. Billy said he had never witnessed anything like that before.

After the girls left, the boys arrived to hear the story.  There were about 30 boys at varied ages ready to listen as well. It was now getting dark so Laura had to use a flashlight to highlight the gift boxes and characters. She said she even used the flashlight like the star above Bethlehem. When Billy finished telling the “What God Wants For Christmas” story he shared Marcus’ salvation story again and showed them the picture I sent.

The response was overwhelming. Every boy wanted to make sure they would be in heaven with Marcus.  Laura said they bowed their heads to the ground (like shepherds and wisemen kneeling before the Baby Jesus) and every boy asked Jesus into their heart!

I’ve been praying that Marcus’ last breath on earth would be the catalyst for others to take their first breath towards eternal life. Sixty children and youth took their first step in Haiti today by making the most important decision in this earthly life. We must all, individually and sincerely, ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior if we want to go to heaven to be with Jesus.

These children have only seen a picture of Marcus. Some day they will actually meet him in heaven. I know Jesus, the angels and Marcus are rejoicing today for each one of these precious souls!

Will you meet Jesus and Marcus some day? Please message me if you want to talk or learn more about Jesus and salvation.

John 3:16-18 – “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Below is the story I wrote for our church’s Advent season in 2010. It is the story of my grandson Marcus Larabie’s salvation story from Christmas 2009 when he was 9 years old. I have not changed a word as I hope the context and story would speak to those who read it. Marcus went to be with Jesus on Boxing Day, December 26, 2014 due to a tragic car accident. This story has given our family great comfort in a time of grief. My prayer is that it will comfort you, too. Jim Martens (Buppa Jim)

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“What God Wants for Christmas”

A reading for Boxing Day 2010

One story I had the opportunity to share with all six of my grand kids occurred exactly one year ago yesterday. It was Christmas Day 2009. Our immediate family was at my daughter Tracy’s house for Christmas dinner. After dinner I had the privilege of sharing a story with them. But before I tell you what happened last year, you need some background information.

Here at South Delta, from Monday to Friday, the First Steps pre-school has been offering their services to children in families within our church and the larger community for many years. At Christmas time, Director Dawna-Lynn Broadhead has given families a unique gift that’s publicized as an interactive kid-friendly nativity. It’s called “What God Wants for Christmas.” It’s a small box that contains 7 little gift boxes and a story book to follow. Six of the boxes have a major figure from the Christmas nativity – the angel Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, the Baby Jesus, a shepherd and a wiseman. The seventh box is a surprise which I will only share cryptically now and explain later. The objective of this exercise is to tell the nativity story by using the gifts and having the kids open them as the story is read aloud. As you bring out each gift you explain its significance to them and have kids place each figure on an enclosed manger scene. Dawna-Lynn had told Nena that it was a great way to share the nativity story with children.

And as Nena and I have 6 grand kids, the interactive nature of the 6 main nativity figures meant each child would be included. All 6 kids could pick out one gift to hold and open it and share it with the others at the appropriate time. It seemed the perfect story structure for our grand kids that day especially when the 7^th gift in the box is actually for everyone to see and observe individually.

As I read the rhyming couplets, the story hinted as to the final gift. At the end of each story it said:

What God wants for Christmas? It’s–to you–a surprise.

In box number seven it is disguised.

But–no peeking! Be patient! For this you must wait.

It’s what you offer Him, and it’s really great!

This was repeated six times. If kids have never experienced this retelling of the nativity story, they are really looking forward to seeing what is in the seventh box. When you finally allow them to look, a smile usually is apparent. Kids are reflective–cryptic reference–and they understand what God wants!

Yes, the seventh box contains a mirror and their own face is reflected back to them. As the story book says:

What God wants for Christmas? Now here’s the surprise

In box number seven, where it’s been disguised.

Peek in the box, for so long you have waited,

What God wants is you‑the one he created!  

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“Me?” you ask. “Why is that so?”

“I cannot wrap me and put on a bow!”

No, you cannot; but what you can give

Are the choices you make in the life that you live.  

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God wants you to know Him and love Him within

And this is called worship, an offering to Him

To do this, trust Jesus, who died in your place

When you didn’t deserve Him—that is called grace.  

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Pray now and offer your life and your heart

Say, “Jesus, I need You. I’d like a new start.

Forgive me today for the sins I’ve committed

So one day in heaven I will be permitted.”  

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When you pray this decision, the heavens rejoice

That you have made worship of God your life’s choice.

God wants you to know Him, so choose every day

To love God and thank God and give Him all praise!

 

When I finished reading a few of the kids said they had already asked Jesus into their hearts. My grand son, Marcus, said, “I haven’t yet.” I said, “Do you want to do that?” To which he replied, “Yes.” And there, with all his cousins sharing in the experience, he repeated a pray of salvation. What a great Christmas evening that was!

We all know that Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes but the gift of salvation is the greatest one we can accept no matter if we are 9 or 79.

It’s uncanny how seven little boxes, a poetic retelling of a story that many of us have heard for years, just needed to add a small, but critical, twist and the new gained perspective has been the catalyst to changing young lives for eternity. I don’t know how many children have been affected by this interactive nativity, but I’m one grandfather that knows its importance in my family.

This year, lets remember the significance of the manger and the Child within it. He came that we might have life and live it abundantly. My hope this coming year is that if you have not accepted this Child–who is our Savior and Lord–that you will think on these things. My prayer is that the stories we share in heaven some day will include my family and yours as well.

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Postscript: I didn’t know when I wrote that final sentence, that four years later, to the day, Marcus would be called home to Jesus. If you have not considered Jesus, please do. I would like you to meet my grandson Marcus and I some day and we can share our stories in heaven. May God bless you! (January 6, 2015)

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