OK, at last it is May 2010 and the end of the "LOST" TV phenomenon - what a relief! Just do a GOOGLE search today and ride along with the rest of the world in reviews that will never end!
Once upon a time there was a very little boy who loved toys. He and his mommy went to a very big toy store with many aisles and many toys. They were not alone--for lots of other kids and mommies were doing the same thing! Only THOSE little kids were holding tight to Mommy's hand....and THIS little kid wasn't! It took only a few seconds and suddenly there is a lost little boy and a very scared mommy in the very big toy store. Darting in and out of aisles and up and down the store, the mommy looked for her little boy....in panic, she reported the lost child to the Service Desk and soon a pager called, "Will Jason Bohanon please come to the front of the store to meet his mother?" A scared little boy and a very relieved mommy soon connected...the lost was found!
Now there may have been 99 other kids and mommies in that toy store, but THIS mommy was only looking for one--HER kid! And that's what GOD does...He takes very special care of HIS kids, and when they are lost, HE is concerned. Many in our world are lost, and the Good Shepherd is waiting at the Well to find us where we are...let's be obedient sheep and head over to the Well for some good advice!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
Look for the Lost!
Look for them - not the reviews, for heaven's sake - the people! There's a lot of REAL lost people in a real world without God, without hope and without peace. The Good Shepherd loves them--and so should we. May God help us to have a watchful eye to see the lost..and a listening ear to hear their silent cries for help. May we love them back into the fold....THAT'S what the Good Shepherd would do!
Love the Flock!
OK, "LOST" is over - but not really in the real world! For there's a lot of even God's own sheep who may feel in such despair - loving Him, but with hurting hearts and heavy spirits beyond our wildest imaginations. Some of them have hurt each other--others are just wounded from the darts of the enemy. You've been given the oil of the Holy Spirit to soothe and bind up the broken--won't you ask the Lord to help you use it to bring His healing to hurting hearts this year? May we minister with compassion, concern and a caring heart to the hurting flock...THAT'S what the Good Shepherd would do!
Listen to the Shepherd!
OK, so all the LOST sheep are not just "out there" - you live with one - you ARE one! And there's a lot of voices bombarding your own auditory systems even as "LOST" winds down and are no more - if there IS such a thing! There's the voice of the past to remind you of your failures and shortcomings. There's the voice of the present to remind you of the unpaid bills, the health concerns, the problems in the workplace, the home, and the church. There's the voice of the future to scare you about the economy, the world in crisis, and your own personal uncertainties. Don't listen to the voice of fear--that's the enemy's voice! May we listen to the voice of the Shepherd. KNOW His voice--it's calm, reassuring and forgiving. It brings comfort, grace, peace and hope...for THAT'S what the Good Shepherd is all about!
There's a lot of people lost in the "toy store" of life....the trinkets and treasures of worldly things have not satisfied; they're scared, confused, and LOST! Will you be an extended hand of the Good Shepherd? Let's join hands with each other, and with the Lord--across the Internet and across our world--to bring the light of the Gospel to the lost who need HIM! And on the days when WE need Him (EVERY day!!), let's LISTEN for His voice and KNOW He's walking beside us each step of the way...for THAT'S what a GOOD SHEPHERD does!
And...remember, whether YOU are in the ninety-and-nine bunch, or you are that one lost little lamb in the toy store, you are special and dearly loved by the Good Shepherd. He's waiting to lead us all safely through the hills and valleys of real life....have a wonderful and blessed day-after-LOST and be glad you've be found - forever, eternally, and without re-runs!
...and that's just a warm, wooly thought or two--from my heart to yours!
His Healing Words
Scripture: Psalm 23.
Prayer: "Lord, I bring to you my life, a live TV-production, with all its challenges and concerns. May I follow in Your steps to look for lost people, to love your flock, and then help me to listen to Your Voice. Thou Shepherd of my soul, lead me beside still waters and guide me into the paths of righteous, for YOUR Name's sake, each day of this year. Amen."
+ + + + + + + + +
Feature links:
LOST - the TV Series
LOST - A GOOGLE Search!
Telling the LOST story in 108 seconds! - clever!
LOST - Explained in Post-It Notes
(theologically messed up; where's a Christian theology prof to refute its basic premise
- in Post-It notes, of course!!)
+ + + + + + +
Kingdom Quest: Discovering the Master Key to Life
Words from the Well devotional archives
