The Lost Sheep

Spring break has begun.  I have finally made it to the beach.  And just like last year, it was a ride to remember.

On the way to the beach last year was the day I really noticed that God had started working in my life.  As I approached Charleston, Hillary Scott’s “Thy Will Be Done” came on the radio.  At that time in my life I was broken, beaten down, at the end of my rope.  The illusion of control I had on my life was finally crumbling.  I lost it, and cried all the way into Myrtle Beach.  It began a very emotional, not so good family vacation.  And it eventually lead me to turn everything over to God, just a few weeks later.

This year was a quite a different story.  It all started while listening to my second Louie Giglio sermon of the night.  When it started, I wasn’t thinking that it would affect me.  It was about how this year we should try to be all we could be in our professional lives.  The thing is, the last few weeks I have been feeling that once again I wanted to move on from my current job….that I wanted to pursue something in the mission field.  So I’m driving down the road with my Bible opened in my lap….my phone open to the notepad and a Lowcountry Community Church pen in my hand (probably not the safest way to drive…….But a complete 180 from where I was last year.)

Louie had 4 points that we should do this year when it comes to our professional lives….

1. Be the best where you are.  “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness (Psalm 37:3.)  In other words, like they used to tell us in the Marine Corps, “Grow where you are planted.”  This point hit home…and from this point on, I knew that this sermon was meant for me…..at this moment in my life. You will never be the best at the next thing until you are the best at what you are doing now.  In that moment, God said….master where you are, and I will move you on to your next step.
2. Embrace and celebrate the grind.  There is no elevator to the top.  You gotta take the stairs.  It’s a process, its one step at a time that will get you to the top….or where God has planned for you to be.
3. Raise others.  (And when its time to move on to your next assignment from God you can tell your boss, “Thank you for this opportunity.  I’m taking another position, but don’t worry, “Janice” is ready to take my place.)  And that’s when I lost it.  Remember the guy from work, whom I invited to church?  He has two weeks left before his final review.  If he has no progress, he most likely won’t be continuing with us.  What I heard in that moment in my heart from God was, “Listen carefully.  Until you have trained your replacement, you won’t be moving on to bigger things.  This is about more than just you.”
4. Grow you.

The sermon finished up…..I heard what God wanted me to hear….I still have an assignment that isn’t complete.  I immediately texted my co-worker.  I told him that I had just listened to an eye-opening sermon.  God wasn’t done with him.  I wasn’t done with him.  Hang in there and I will be back in a week to secure him his job.

About this time I was rolling into the outer limits of Myrtle beach.  And unlike last year when I was broken…..this year I was jamming to Worthy is Your Name and Reckless Love.

Just like it says in Reckless Love….God will search you out when you are lost.  God will bring you back.  And God will celebrate with you when you arrive.  Jesus tells the following parable that the song Reckless Love comes from.

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’  I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”                                            Luke 15:4-7

When I was lost…..when I was broken….when I had lost my way…..God came and got me. All God wants to do is walk with us….hang out with us….live life with us.  I know this to be true….because I have sensed Him there almost everyday since our last family vacation at the beach.

I will enjoy my week here.  I’m in a different place this year.  I really can’t wait to get up in the morning and see what God has in store.  But as for next week when I get back to work….God has already let me know what He has in store for me……We’ve got a lost sheep to find and bring home.