They hid … among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called … “Where are you?”— Genesis 3:8-9

We’ve all heard stories about hikers or hunters who, walking in the woods, stumbled across a body. Recently I read the story of some hunters who discovered the body of a boy lying in tall grass. Many people had been looking for him. Weeks before, he had donned his backpack and left home after a disagreement with his parents. What ended his life, investigators said, was a bad fall from a tall tree. How sad!
Every year families and communities work together to search for someone who is lost. Personal experience has shown me how far friends, family, the community and the police will go to find a missing loved one. My beloved Linda went missing January 5th, 2009. Sometimes a precious child goes missing. Sometimes it’s a dear grandmother who grew confused and lost her way. In every case everyone hopes for a happy outcome. Anyone who has searched for missing loved ones understands the lengths we will go to try to find them.
The Bible’s story of redemption begins with a grieving Creator calling out in the garden, “Where are you?” After the wonderful affirmations he made about his handiwork in the first two chapters of Genesis, this is a question full of deep compassion and urgency. And although the question is first asked in Genesis, the seeking grace that motivates it can be found throughout Scripture.
Do you hear your Creator calling for you? As we move into a New Year will you let God use you to bring his lost sons and daughters home?

Reflection

Who in your life is the Lord calling …”Where are you?” Are you able to share “your story” of the Lord’s working in your life? Write “your story” down. Reflect back and identify those times in your life when the Lord was working in your life in extraordinary ways.

Prayer

Father, your heart aches for lost souls. Thank you for rescuing us through Jesus, the only way home. Help us see where You are working so that You can use us to introduce others to You with the same compassion and urgency. Amen

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 1ST, 2012

PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH

Five new Sunday morning Bible Studies begin next Sunday. Information about them is in the January Newsletter and will be sent out via email later this week. Please pray that the Lord of the church will move the hearts of his disciples here at Our Savior to take advantage of one of these opportunities to grow in faith and knowledge in service to our Lord..

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. – Psalm 33:10-11

In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church