“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4

“Your typical “lost and found” at a bus station, shopping mall, or sports arena consists of junky trinkets, hats, gloves, and old toys, all piled in a bent cardboard box, never to be claimed. Heaven’s “lost and found” is different. Jesus claims the whole thing. No wonder all angels must be celebrating, it must be a great place to work.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Stairlift to Heaven

There is nothing that can get in the way of G-d’s love for us through Jesus Christ. If we put up a rock, G-d will bring a rock smasher. If we put up a wall, G-d will send an army of angels to knock it down. If we put a chasm between us and G-d, Jesus will use a stairlift. Why else would we have story after story from Jesus about the value of one sheep, one coin, one sinner if to tell us that nothing can separate us from the Love of G-d found in Jesus.

I do not believe we have to rely on a stairlift or a stairway to heaven — that Jesus comes to us every day, and on the day of our death. We may feel lost once in a while, but Jesus finds us every time.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, there are times we feel lost and alone, and times when we need a lift. Help me to feel your presence today along with the assurance that you are always with me. Amen.

Pastor Dave

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“One wan to become a new person is to make like Prince and fashion a persona, the way stars pluck duds from a wardrobe. This is not what happened to Saul. The followers of Jesus were afraid of Saul, and for good reason. Saul had made a name for himself by persecuting the early Christians, tracking them down, and hauling them off to prison. But Jesus turned Saul’s life around. Paul formerly known as Saul Egan spreading the good news about Jesus and doing great things for the church. This 180-degree change in direction was a total transformation only God could pull off.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Identity Theft

Have you ever known someone who changed their name? I am not talking now about someone who gets married and decides to change their last name. No, I am talking about someone who doesn’t like their first name and so they legally change it to something else. I have had a few friends who have done just that. It is a bit jarring, I must say. I have usually found out about the name change when they send me a friend request on social media and they have to explain that they used to be known as “such and such” but now they go by “so and so”.

Getting a name change in the Bible is significant — it is not just a passing fancy. Abram becomes Abraham to signify that G-d is serious about his progeny becoming as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the shore. Jacob becomes Israel when G-d tells him that he will continue to struggle with G-d throughout his life, but it will not be in vain. And Saul becomes Paul once Jesus visits him giving him renewed purpose in his life.

We may be named Steven, Paul, Leah, or Matthew, or even Ariah, but through our baptisms G-d renames us as “children of the Heavenly Father.” That is a name no one can take away from us — and will always have its true value.

Let us pray,

Oh Lord, the name above all names, forgive us our sins and renew us as your children every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave