Lost and Found
So last sunday morning fred heard the dogs barking and looked to see why... a lost dog had found it's way up to our fence... fred brought him in cuz he got along with brandy and chewy (and we wanted to keep him until his owner could come pick him up--but when it came time for him to go i was so sad!! I cried and asked God if he could be our dog in heaven!)... he was very gentle... white with black and brown spots... in desparate need of a bath (p-u!)... his ribs were visible... we wonderend how long he had been lost... he ate about 5 big bowls of food and drank gallons of water... we just hung out with him awhile... petting him, playing with him... he got comfortable here quick! he was able to lay down and rest, not concerned with what was going on around him. he was beat from a long and weary journey. then after church, we came home and cleaned him up a bit. he had about 30 big ticks on him and his ears were drowned in this thick black sludge, so we cleaned his ears out with q-tips and plucked every tick we could find... this poor, filthy, tired, hungry, thirsty dog just let us fix him up. Even though at times removing the ticks had to hurt he just let us care for him... he didn't whine or fuss or pull away. We were amazed. and while i was cleaning him up i thought about how this is a picture of how God is with us! we were once lost, on the outside of the fence, but God graciously brings us in! He feeds us everlasting bread! He gives us living water! He plucks away our idols and the sin that so easily entangles us tossing it away into the bottomless pit/garbage can. He removes us from the mire and cleanses the filthy stains of our sin with the blood of His Beautiful, Perfect Son, if only we ask!! He gives wandering, weary souls rest! He demonstrates his love for us by just allowing us to spend time with HIM in his presence! When we come to him in search of love and help, he doesn't smack us of tell us "get lost!" No! Our Jesus humbles himself, gets down on his knees, on our level, with open arms and says "COME! Come to me! I've made a way! Come to me! I love you! I love you more than you can imagine! I love you in ways you can't understand! Don't be afraid! I won't cause you harm! Though things in this world may cause you pain, i promise to stay with you and help you and love you ALWAYS! I'm what you're searching for! You can't find true satisfaction in those other things! Come to me! Come to me and be satisfied! I'll fill your heart to overflowing! Come to me and i'll give you rest! Come to me and find joy in expressible! Come to me and experience what you were created to be! Come to me and enjoy the gifts and joys i have prepared for you in my Father's house... the New Earth!!"