Lost and Found

I’m sure everyone has lost something at one point or time in their life. It can be very frustrating, especially when the lost item has significant value like car keys, or a purse or wallet. Or perhaps the lost item had considerable sentimental value. Whatever the case may be, one cannot stop thinking and re-thinking about where and how the item was lost. It consumes your thoughts until either you find it, or you finally relinquish your loss and suffer the consequences.

Recently Tracy’s sister Teri Jo and her husband Rick, who pastor a wonderful church in Cheyenne Wyoming, had traveled to our house in Minnesota for a visit. Tracy and Teri’s sisterly relationship is very close as they share many commonalities. One of which is clothing. Even though they live in different parts of the country, they talk or text almost daily and most often aware of what the other is wearing. In fact, they know what clothing items are in each other’s closets—mostly due to the fact that their closets contain many of the same items. Seriously, I’m not kidding!

One of their favorite places to shop is a popular women’s boutique called Rachel’s Closet, which just happens to be just a few miles from our house. Of course, Teri most often has to shop on-line, so when she comes to visit, you can bet that a visit to Rachel’s is a main event. So, off the two sisters and their mom Jan, who is also a stylish pretty lady, went out for a special lunch followed by a coveted trip to Rachel’s Closet.

After completing their purchases at Rachel’s, Tracy opened the rear hatch of our newly acquired vehicle, and the ladies placed their bags in the back. As you can imagine, they were having a wonderful time—smiling, giggling, and happy. They turned onto the main highway heading for home. Mom Jan was sitting in the back seat and started to wonder why her hair was blowing around so much, it didn’t look like anyone’s windows were down. Hmm! Tracy, who is typically a very safe and smart driver (I may have had to add that into the story if I know what’s good for me—ha ha!), all of a sudden noticed that they had been driving down the busy highway with the back hatch completely open. (Who should have closed the hatch…nobody knows) 😊  She quickly pulled onto the next approach and went to the back of the vehicle where she discovered…yes, you guessed it, one of the bags from Rachel’s was missing. It was Teri’s bag, and it obviously had fallen out as they were driving.

The ladies drove back to the boutique stopping in to check if anyone had by chance turned in Teri’s lost goods. Unfortunately, no one had found them, so Teri left them her phone number, and the three ladies then retraced their path slowly down the highway, eyes peeled for a Rachel’s Closet bag along the roadside. They returned to our house, sad, bewildered, and empty handed. But… they did have a very intriguing story for us guys 😊

Their story unfolded. For us guys especially, it seemed very comical. And we were all (ladies as well) having a good time with it and yet shared in the sadness of Teri’s lost items ☹. Of course, we were trying to help by tracing through their steps, but it was really quite humorous. We eventually determined that we would all go back and trace through their path together thinking that maybe the bag had blowen into the ditch. We prayed and headed out for Rachel’s, starting in the parking lot, and then traveled slowly down the shoulder of Highway 65…windows down, hazard lights flashing, while Tracy and Teri walked side by side for nearly two miles through the ditches. Still nothing!

The next couple of meals we shared, we continued to ask the Lord that the lost items would somehow be found. The following day the ladies were out together again, and Teri received a phone call from a Minnesota number. Wouldn’t you know, it was Rachel’s Closet, and they had her bag of clothes. As you can imagine, they were elated! They quickly returned to Rachel’s. As it turned out, some man had saw the bag along side of the road, stopped and picked it up, and brought it into Rachel’s the following day. What a fun story, huh? And, we all were once again reminded of how the power of Gods love reaches into every area of our lives.

This is kind of a fun little story. But I must say that I cannot tell you the number of times that either Tracy or I have personally lost something and exhausted all our own efforts in trying to find it, and then finally pray about it, and all of a sudden, we find it! (why did we wait to pray ??). Seriously, this has happened so many times, and I have heard many similar stories from others. I sincerely believe that God takes pleasure in intervening and helping us find that which is lost. I believe He wants to show us that He cares about even the little things (and often what others might think are insignificant) in our lives. God is intricately acquainted with all of the details of our lives. He knows it all, nothing is hidden from Him. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”

Perhaps today you may be thinking that God doesn’t care about you or the details your life. Maybe you feel alone and that your problems or issues in life are too far from God’s reach or concern. Maybe you feel as though you have made a mess of things yourself and you must find your own way out. Friend, in all these situations and more, I can assure you that God knows the very tiniest of details in your life right now, and He is ready and willing to intervene. He loves you and wants to bless you.

The Bible says that God knit each one of us together while we were yet in our mother’s womb (see Psalm 139:13-16). And Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”  Furthermore, Romans 8:38-39 tells us, For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There was a time in my life when I realized that I was spiritually lost. I remember it like it was yesterday. I felt the presence of God tugging at my heart so strongly and I invited Him to be my Lord. Pure and simple, the very best decision I have ever made in my life. You see, I used to think Christians were weak, and often hypocritical people who just needed a crutch to lean on. I was too proud to think I needed the same, and I certainly didn’t want to follow any religious rules. I was so wrong. The enemy of my soul, the master of pride, had me hood winked. But I opened the door of my heart to Jesus that day, and I have never looked back. I found out that religion and its rules were actually in opposition to what Jesus taught, and that they only brought bondage and guilt. But in Jesus, I was actually free to be me.

Soon I began to understand that there is freedom and liberty in Christ and that He wanted to be involved in every area of my life. Additionally, I learned that God wants our lives to be happy and full of joy. While somehow, I had previously thought that holiness was adherence to a religious set of rules. I thought that I would have to give up fun and independency in life. But actually, only the opposite is true. Jesus said He came so we might have joy in our lives and have it in abundance (see John 10:10, 16:24, 17:13). He wants our joy to be full! There is nothing…nothing more exciting and fulfilling than life with Jesus Christ as your best friend. Let me assure you that you can live a life that is pleasing to God and thoroughly enjoy your life at the same time. Many people have missed it by thinking their spiritual lives should be somehow separate from the rest of their lives. This is such a tragedy!  I believe we glorify God the most when we are the happiest in Him. Psalm 37:10 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Pure and simple, God loves you and He wants you to know Him as a loving father who desires to bless your life.

If there is anything said in this message today that is somehow resonating in your heart, I believe God is speaking to you. God already knows all about you, and He truly wants to be your Lord and true source of your joy and peace. He doesn’t budge His way in, it’s up to you to invite Him. If you have not asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, I encourage you to invite Him in today. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person (restore him), and they with me.” Rev 3:20

Do you need help today! Maybe you have a physical need or are struggling in a relationship. Perhaps it’s a financial need, or a situation where you need direction or guidance in your life. Whatever your need is, Jesus truly wants to help! He cares about the tiniest of details in your life. Whether it’s a lost purchase from Rachel’s Closet (come on…some guy just happens to see a paper bag stop along side of a busy highway, stops and picks it up, and then decides to bring it to the boutique the following day??) or whether it is your specific need at this very moment. God cares about everything in our lives, no matter who you are. He just wants you to be committed to Him. He is no respecter of persons. You can trust Him!  Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Also, Prov 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Blessed by the Best,

Mark

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