Thus Saith the Dog!

What does the Shepherd do with the one lost sheep once has found him?

I have wondered about that from time to time over the years.  I made many assumptions about the reunion and reinstallation of sheep into the fold, but I am not so sure I really understood the significance of it until this month.

Let me explain.

I talk a lot about the Parable of the Lost Sheep for good reason. Next to the Apostle Peter, I identify with the Lost Sheep more than anyone else in the Bible. I know what it is like to be driven away. I completely understand what it is like to be lost and not want to be found. I was the one that wondered off into obscurity with no intention of coming back.

I was the Lost one.

What I cannot get out of my mind is that He, the Shepherd, looks for us in spite of what we want. Out of His great love for his own, he constantly looks for us so that He can restore us.

If you remember my January blog, I spoke about the prophetic word worldwide for 2010 being the “Year of Restoration.” Upon hearing that, my wife Anna went home and began looking, for the thousandth time, for her half-sister whom she had never met. Anna received that word and, you know what, she was on the phone with her sister the next day! A 21-year search ended.  That was a void in my wife’s life and it was restored to her. In February, they met face to face in Idaho. I do not have the words to describe the pure joy it was for me to see that happen.  Finding her was a monumental event in our lives that will forever change us.

This month I took an unexpected trip to Eureka California. My good friend of 20 years, Willy Bowles, was in Las Vegas and, basically, threw me in his car and made me drive home with him. He pastors a church there and also directs the Bethel School of Supernatural Discipleship (BSSD).  Willy won’t pass up an opportunity to let someone live out their calling, so I preached on Sunday morning and I was the guest speaker at BSSD that following week. It was incredible meeting the students and seeing what God was doing in lives of people there. As I spoke that week, I had a reunion with myself. I remembered my destiny. I remembered who I was in Christ. The life that was once sucked out of me by the pain and bitterness of days gone by was breathed back into me. I was back! Revived and renewed!

I am found.

In the days that followed, I was offered a position as a Revival Pastor where I will pastor 65 students and teach at the school. So, this summer, we will pack up and move to Eureka.

We are restored.

He will constantly look for you no matter what the circumstances and He intends to find you.   God continues to leave the porch light on and the door is ALWAYS open. You cannot get too dirty or be too rotten for God not to find value in you.

So…What does He do with the one lost sheep?

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” (Luke 15:20-24)

He throws a party that’s what He does!

“We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found” (Luke 15:32)

This Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. It is a perfect opportunity to be renewed, and let God breathe life back into you or maybe someone you know. The Shepherd, the Father is waiting to party with someone. You are invited and you might as well be there since He won’t stop looking for you until you are.

So let the party begin!

~Rude Dog