Looking for You?

The story of my Grandfather’s Christian conversion brings me a thrill every time I tell it. The Grandpa I knew was a man who sat in the same place in that little church in Truesdale, Iowa every Sunday morning and evening. “Brother Scott” was often asked to lead out in prayer. His heavily accented English (he was a Danish immigrant) still echoes in my memories as he invited “our loving Heavenly Father” to come to bless our gathering. He was not always that man. I am told he was quick to swing a fist in fights and fond of alcohol but one night he heard a girl evangelist tell the story of Jesus’ love and life changed. Some might say he found God, but the truth is, God was never lost. God found Grandpa!

He is a seeking God, looking for those who are wayward, lost, confused, or without purpose.

Jesus visited the home of a man who was a social outcast, a truly sinful crook, name Zacchaeus and after a long dinner, the man was changed. The story ends with this declaration: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10, NIV) John tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”  (John 3.16)

Our need is met with His resources. He seeks, He saves, He restores us to our place in His family.

Jesus told three stories about this which are recorded in Luke 15. Seems that people of poor reputation, whose sins were public and obvious, gathered to hear Jesus teach. Some ‘religious’ people who were unaware of their own spiritual need huffed that He “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus answers their criticism with the stories of a Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin, and a Lost Son to drive home the point that God seeks out those who are far from Him and accepts those who turn around and come home, regardless of their past!

The first story is a beautiful illustration that ONE person matters to God. The shepherd who has one missing sheep goes out to find that one even though ninety-nine are safe in the pen! When the lost lamb is recovered the shepherd "goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." (Luke 15:6, NIV)

He tells of a woman who lost a coin. "Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?" (Luke 15:8, NIV) Her diligent search reminds us that we are God’s treasure and He seeks for us, too. "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10, NIV)

The best story is the last one, about a headstrong young man who asks for his inheritance, abandons his father’s household, lives it up, and ends up broken and alone. Some might expect that the father would say that he got what he deserved. Jesus says that our Father in heaven is not at all like that!

When the lost son puts together an appeal to just ‘work on the farm for food’ and heads home thinking he will find an angry Dad, he discovers amazing grace and profound love. Even after a thousand readings of this story, I cannot read the words without tears filling my eyes. "So, he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:20-24, NIV)

I have wandered and wondered so many times only to be restored by the God who seeks!  I cannot claim to find Him, for it is His love that finds me.  It is not fear that drives me back to Him, it is love that draws me to His open arms.

Lost? Confused? Wandering? Wondering?
Convinced by some that you need to make a deal with God to find His acceptance?

In truth, He is seeking you, inviting you to come home. Will you?

The word from the Word profoundly states His love, reminding us of its power to change us – sinners to sons, to keep us until we are safely home forever.
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT)

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT)

Let God love you to life today!
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(Video of this blog at this link)

Those Gray Skies

It is a gloomy morning outside here in NW NJ today. The skies are dark gray, no ray of sunshine found. The ground is wet, the leaves clumped in soggy piles on the ground. For weeks, no rain has fallen, allowing us to enjoy a long stretch of beautiful days but even that blessing turned into a curse as our water reservoir levels fell and vegetation withered.  So, I am glad for the gloom. Today will bring a refreshing of the dry ground!

Are you in a time of beauty, blessing, abundance, and overflow?
Or are you broken and stressed, needy and/or sad?

I have enjoyed seasons when laughter came easily, when I loved the dawn of a new day bringing rich opportunities my way.  I have known stretches of darkness when I dreaded yet another long day that demanded my effort to push through sadness, finding it hard to even get out of bed. Honestly, most of the time my life experience is somewhere in the middle – joy mixed with sorrow; abundance challenged by need.

That is the human experience! We know both exhilarating and debilitating moments, seasons of sunshine and then those of rain, bright summers followed by cold winter.

A key to remaining steady, to avoid becoming a captive of wild swings of emotion, is found in the words of the Roman philosopher, Cicero, who suggested that “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others."  The person who actively pursues genuine thankfulness – to God, to others – is richer for the choice.

Paul, inspired by the Spirit of God, teaches the followers of Jesus to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV) This wisdom is not asking us to merely attempt to find the silver lining in the cloud. It is much more than just putting on a happy face. It is a choice that goes far deeper than saying positive things.

The preacher illustrates the power of faith that inspires gratitude that gives rise to joy in his own life. After being arrested in Jerusalem, he was passed from one cowardly politician to another, remaining in custody until finally he exercised his right as a citizen and asked for a hearing with Caesar in Rome! A terrible months-long journey followed and then he was held for months awaiting his trial. During that imprisonment, he wrote a letter to the new Believers in Philippi that we call the “Epistle of Joy!”  In four short chapters, he teaches that joy flows from faith.

“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. . .. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians1:2, 6)

His focus extended beyond the moment to the greater purposes and promises of God. "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon." (Philippians 4:4-5, NLT)

And he reminds us of the importance of taking charge of the thoughts of the moment, becoming wiser and more hopeful through prayer and perseverance. "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NLT)

Let’s remember, once again, he did not write this from some resort on the Med, sipping a refreshingly cool beverage, while tended by adoring staff members! He wrote from chains of Roman custody, after more than two years of one disappointment after another.

You can do it! God, the Holy Spirit, lives in you, works in you, and teaches you the Way – IF you will allow Him to lead you.

Happiness, as I have said so many times before, is fed by sunshine and great situations. JOY flows out of the heart that is anchored in faith, obedient to God’s direction, and hopeful in His provisions.

The word from the Word today is so very familiar to most of us.  Don’t let that familiarity rob this inspired passage of the power that packs its punch. "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." (Philippians 4:12-13, NLT)

Steady on, my dear friend. Joy comes in the morning!

 

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(Video of this blog at this link)