Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Lost

As a church, we've been in a sermon series called 'Under Construction' for the last few weeks. Our church is in a time of major transition, and God is doing some awesome things, but as a church that has been here for 150 years, there's a lot of dust shaking around as we move into what God is calling us to right now. So we pray and work and dream. I love this kind of construction!

Several weeks ago, the sermon that particularly hit home was on being lost. Our pastor used the parables from Luke 15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. The next night in our small group, we were to elaborate on if we'd been in a situation of losing someone or something. I retold this story about Remy that really caused a huge stirring in my soul:

When we lived in Nashville, our Sunday afternoons were occupied with something called 'Church in the Yard' (CITY). CITY consisted of a short service & communion and then serving a meal to the 100 or so homeless brothers that had gathered. We looked forward to this time every week and loved taking the kids with us to just meet and love on some of our homeless friends. One Sunday I was serving in the food line and Trace had both littles and was talking to some guys in the yard. Suddenly he rushed over to me, threw Halle into my arms and said 'I can't find Remy.'.

Have you been there? That lump in your throat. The panic... the feeling that life won't go on without them. And five minutes seemed like an eternity. Thankfully after a few panicked minutes searching, Remy emerged from the church building with Brett, who is practically family, happily holding his hand and carrying a cookie. I have never held my boy like I did in that moment. And for him, he never even knew he was lost.

As our group shared stories (we all had them, and looking around we remarked that 'Man, we are terrible parents!'), I had the amazing realization that this is what God is calling me to feel for his people. Jesus demands it of us, and I'm praying that he would ever increase that gut-wrenching ache in me for the poor. the abandoned. the far from God.

This morning I was praying through the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), and verse 10 resounded within me in a new way. "...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I have such hope in my eternal home, but Jesus is begging us to live not as one just waiting for eternity but bringing a glimpse of his kingdom here to the very ones he came to save. I hope, my sweet friends, that you see some of this today, in the lives you lead and in the people you meet!

3 comments:

  1. What a great reminder about what we should really be focusing on as Christians.

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  2. I love it! I agree with MommieDaze...excellent reminder! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. This is a powerful story! I love the image of God searching for us, and how we can carry that love into the world.

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