I Lost My Puppy!

"Oh no, where is he?" I'd just gotten home from church and my pup, who was supposed to be asleep in his play pen area (a long, tall, rectangular metal enclosure) was no where to be found! I called my oldest son to see if he took him. He said, "No". I frantically searched the house, calling his name, "Apollos, Apollos!" Exasperated, I stood in the middle of the living room thinking, "How can someone completely lose a puppy?" Then I heard a...thump, thump, thump, coming from the direction of the stairs. I ran over as he peaked his freckled little white nose around the corner. A sigh of relief escaped as I rushed over to pick him up. My little man learned how to climb up the cage to the top and tumble over the edge to freedom! I put him back in and hid to watch his escape method. Needless to say, I quickly headed back to the pet store to exchange the play pen for a crate. I'm thankful my pup is safe and didn't get into anything harmful while roaming free. 

Friends, have you ever gone outside the safe boundaries The LORD has placed around your life? I have. It was a slow, downward spiral into a disastrous mess. I didn't even realize I'd wandered too far until my life was crumbling around me. The people I love most in the world were hurt, disappointed and deeply affected by my choices to run from The LORD and HIS Loving Wisdom and Guidance. I hid for a long time in my shame. I didn't want to come out into the Light. I felt I didn't deserve to have a good life. But sitting in my hiding spot only compounded the problem, keeping me from receiving JESUS' Redeeming, Forgiveness, Love and Healing. A Healing not only for me but for my loved ones who were hurt the most by my bad choices. 

I'm thankful for this reminder of running, hiding and being found. I'm thankful for the Healing and Restoration JESUS has brought into my life and my family's. I'm thankful that in and through HIM *all* things are made new! HE is the Seeker of the lost, and broken, calling them out of darkness and into HIS Marvelous Light.

 

"He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake."~Psalm 23:3

"because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."~Romans 8:2

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

Are You Running Fast Enough?

The boy, no older than 2 years old ran as fast as his short legs could carry him. Laughter filled the air as he glanced several times over his shoulder to see if his dad was getting closer. In just a few short steps he closed the gap, stooping down, he scooped his child into his arms swinging him around and around. He gently set him down and began to walk away. The young toddler, realizing it was his turn to chase his dad, set his legs in motion, awkwardly trying to maintain his balance while increasing his speed. Faster and faster he went, until the pace was too much for his tired little legs. He launched forward, falling to his knees; his father immediately coming to his rescue.

I want to be just like this young child. I want to be running after Jesus so fast that my feet give out and I'm constantly falling to my knees.

"Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall, 
But those who wait on the Lord 
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint."~Isaiah 40:28-31

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."~Isaiah 40:28-31

Puzzling Isn't It?

Do you remember working on puzzles when you were younger or perhaps you still work on them? Each piece with its curved shapes and angles needed to be placed in exactly the right spot and position to complete the puzzle. This process can take days, weeks & even months depending on the size, number of pieces and difficulty of the puzzle. I generally liked puzzles that were not too difficult but challenging enough to keep my interest without frustrating me. I’d place a certain one down and then realize there was no way it would work because the shape of the other pieces could not fit or be squeezed into it. The best part of puzzling was being able to make a mistake and knowing I’d be able to fix it and eventually get it right. I became excited as each misshapen piece began to take form, slowly revealing the entire beautiful picture that had been hidden when all the pieces were piled on top of each other inside the box. It was a delight to know that each and every piece had a purpose, a spot, a place it belonged...eventually becoming what it was supposed to be.

 Life is like a puzzle. Each piece of your life has a purpose. Some pieces may not fit right at first...circumstances, bad decisions and choices you’ve made seemed to have misshapen your hopes, goals and dreams. Your perfect life picture is no longer visible. Things seem to be scattered. But that’s the beauty of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. You can start over. You can have everything put perfectly back together. Yes I do mean EVERYTHING. A relationship with Christ takes all of your misshapen pieces of life and puts them together piece by piece, day by day, month by month and year by year. Until one day, you begin to see what the Lord has for you. A perfect picture of a life once in shambles, put back together again. A beautiful portrait waiting to finally take form through Christ’s loving, forgiving, sacrifice of eternal love for you.  

Don’t let go of your hope. Your puzzle is still a work in progress. God’s given you a very difficult one because He knows that with His help, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. He has a good and perfect plan for your life. Each day is being carefully placed into the exact spot it needs to be to create the final picture. Enjoy today’s puzzle knowing that it fits perfectly into God’s plan for you! 

"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction..." 

1 Thessalonians 1:3-5

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of  God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." 

Proverbs 3:1-6

"Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you."

Proverbs 22:17-19