Heaven's Peace Reflections
Weekly Meditations and Music for The Liturgical Calendar Year
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Mirror, mirror…
What does a saint look like?
Through images in statues and paintings, we have come to recognize over the centuries those persons the church has deemed as Saints. Even the Son of man has been thusly depicted, yet no one really knows what Jesus looked like unless they met Him in person on earth or in heaven. But again, there is the question: What does a saint look like…Isn’t it plausible to think that someone so venerated by the church could be readily identified? Or shouldn’t a person committed to the love of Christ, though unheralded as a saint, be identified as such when doing the work for the Kingdom of God.
Have you ever seen yourself in a mirror and been startled at the reflection returning the gaze? Not due to lack of make-up or frizzy hair, it is my opinion that this odd circumstance can be credited to the habit of depending on others for a definition of self. Perhaps it is a diffident or lackadaisical approach to living but nonetheless, it is the fall-back position for humans to lose sight of themselves when enveloped in their perception by a stronger personality.
The “good news” is that God calls you a saint if you are a follower of Christ, having received salvation through faith in His sacrificial gift of love and grace. The believer in Christ is dominated by His strong personhood - The Spirit of God resides in the hearts of believers and that image is reflected back when we view ourselves in the mirror of our daily walk with Him. The scriptures espouse that through time spent in the Word of God and in prayer and confession, we will see through the glass darkly but there will be a time when we see “face to face”.
The Living Bible paraphrases I Corinthians 13:12 TLB as follows: “In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face-to-face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now.”
The more we seek Christ, the more His image is reflected from ourselves to the world - even to ourselves. And although we see an unclear image when we look in the mirror, it nonetheless reveals the sustaining core of our hearts.
Mirror, mirror on the wall… Who’s the fairest one of all?
Fairest Lord Jesus
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About the Book
Who doesn’t want Heaven’s Peace? These reflections will inspire you both in seeking and celebrating that Peace.
Lana Marler has a remarkable capacity of finding and using images that will keep you reading.
Rev. Maxie Dunnam, Minister at Large, Christ Church, Memphis, TN
A lifetime of following Jesus has led to Lana’s sharing the fruit of her journey with personal stories,
her deep songbook and reflections on Bible stories that’ll make your heart smile.
Join Lana as she follows the Master with keen insight and a truckload of joy!
Joe Birch, Memphis News Anchor
These musings seem heartfelt and can easily speak to various people at various times.
The approach reminds me of the Upper Room booklets: A short to the point thought for the day.
I have no doubt people can find value in them.
Dr. Jerry Harber, Memphis, TN
In her latest book, Lana Lee Marler has produced interesting and inspiring weekly Christian meditations, music and art,
designed to assist the reader in having a deeper understanding of scripture and the liturgical calendar.
For the person seeking to increase his/her spiritual growth, I would highly recommend the use of this new book.
Rev. Kenton Burnette, United Methodist Minister, Retired
Lana Marler is a blessing to many simple, everyday people like me.
She knows that God gave us all one job…Love people. Lana does that well. It has been my treat to read most of these words before they found their way into this book, so I know she will be a blessing to you.
Read, think, listen. You will meet Jesus.
Dr. Charles R. Halford, Memphis, TN
This book is a must read for all who aspire to spiritual awakening,
and an inspiration to those who seek to experience the Holy Spirit through music.
Lee Saunders, Attorney
About the Author
Lana Lee Marler offers her third book in this weekly resource of meditations and music for the Liturgical Calendar Year. Her first two books were entitled: Follow Me – A Seasonal Journey, published in 2017 and Cast Your Net Again...For Such a Time as This, published in 2022. Lana is a poet, singer/song writer, and church music director. A wife and mother, she is partner in ministry with her husband who is a United Methodist minister. Lana is an artist in any medium, but long ago chose music to express her relationship to God. Her faith journey led her to a major in sacred music in college and has crossed the landscape of three denominations: Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal. Spending countless hours mastering the hymnody and liturgies of these quite varied traditions has added depth and richness to her Christian perspective. Moreover, her musical DNA is infused with the music of the times in which she grew up- – the 1960’s. Whether the song is Joan Baez’s “Swing Low” or “Just As I Am” sung from a back row Baptist pew, she connects with each tradition in authenticity. In 2004, Lana and her husband, Rev. William D. Marler, co-founded Jacob’s LadderTM Community Development Corporation, a non-profit charity serving inner-city Memphis, where the Gospel of Christ is shared through community building, housing rehabilitation and education. All proceeds from this book will go to benefit the communities served by Jacob’s LadderTM (jacobsladdercdc.org)