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Thank you for joining me today for the Tune In Thursday linkup … before we get to today’s post, I want to apologize for not getting around to commenting on everyone who linked up last week. I do love reading all the posts you link here each week, and I look forward to connecting with you that way, however my travel, teaching, and book rewriting schedule has been rather full.
My goal with hosting this link up is three fold:
1. Build authentic community with those of you who link your posts.
2. Encourage and Inspire
3. Provide a fun place each week for you to share the message God has placed on your heart.
I am working on a survey that I hope to have posted here in the next week or two and you can weigh in on the importance of me visiting/commenting on each post, or the possibility of highlighting a post each week.
One final thing, as I continue to work on rewrites with my publisher, I am looking for individuals who are interested in being a featured guest writer over the summer months here on Tune In Thursday. More details will be coming in the next few weeks regarding this as well, but feel free to message me if you are interested.
The Lost Will be Found
Side Note: Today’s post originally debuted on our church blog (www.rclacey.com) back in April – Enjoy!
Have you ever lost something that you valued or dearly treasured?
Maybe the item lost was a person or a relationship?
Maybe a piece of jewelry? Or money? An item of clothing?
Maybe what you lost wasn’t worth much monetarily, but it still was important to you.
I am a big stickler for not misplacing items, losing things, or forgetting about items and leaving them behind. I will even double and triple check hotel rooms for even the smallest of items to make sure I am not leaving anything behind. Just ask my kids. When they were growing up, I hated the fact that they would carelessly “forget” or lose items of clothing such as jackets, shoes, headphones, etc. I think you get the picture. I am not sure why it bothers me to have things misplaced or lost, maybe it’s because I work hard and save money to get nice things?
Tweet ThisLast summer when my mom came to visit, she lost something, a watch. It wasn’t worth a whole lot of money, but it had value to her. She looked high and low in her bags and other items before she left and even after she got home. She had us searching high and low too. We looked under the bed, in the sheets, behind the dressers, in all the drawers, in and under the couch; basically anywhere that this item could have fallen or been accidentally placed, and then forgotten. We searched for months and yet never found her watch. She never found her watch either. In all honesty, we had chalked it up to never being found again. However, at the end of February, I received a text with a picture of my mom wearing the watch that had been missing. It turned up in her make-up bag!
What????
There’s just no way!
How could this possibly happen?
I know she has looked in her little makeup bag probably a thousand times between last summer and when it “suddenly” and miraculously appeared!
As I was contemplating how this could happen, the Lord nudged me and said, “Don’t you remember? I am the restorer of the lost and lost things.” Yes, you read that right, He not only restores and returns those who are lost, He also returns things that have been lost, forgotten, or stolen.
When I felt, the Lord speak those words to my heart, I had this faint recollection of a testimony I had heard 9 years ago from Bishop Joseph Garlington. I can’t recall the scripture he preached from nor the details around it, only the fact something seemingly insignificant, such as a pocket knife, had miraculously returned. The pocket knife had significant meaning to the person and they had to leave it behind at the airport security checkpoint. Yet mysteriously, or rather shall we say miraculously, it just appeared in their belongings one day.
Bishop Garlington asked if we wanted something back, and if so, to ask the Lord for it. He asked us all to say this phrase and fill in the blank appropriately. “Lord, I want _______________ BACK!”
We all did.
For some in the room that night, the thing they wanted back was a person. Maybe it was their son or daughter who was no longer in relationship with the Lord nor their earthly family members. Some wanted their health restored or their special item returned, like that pocket knife. For others, it was the loss of a wedding ring, the loss of an inheritance that was taken from them, or finances lost from business ventures. It mattered not what the “thing” was that we were asking the Lord to return to us. We were making a prophetic declaration and asking the Lord to move His hand of mercy and favor over our lives. We were asking Him to return the lost.
As we have just come out of the Easter Season, we celebrated what God’s Son, Jesus, did for us and we focus our attention on sharing the Good News of the gospel with lost souls. Those lost souls may be family members and friends we love or anyone around us that does not yet have a relationship with Jesus.
I am reminder of three parables Jesus told in Luke 15.
The parable of the Lost Sheep
The parable of the Lost Coin
The parable of the Prodigal Son
Each one of these parables point us to the fact that there is value placed on everyone.
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:8-10).
I also believe that God cares about the things we care about, like my mom’s watch for instance. He knew she treasured that watch. She had looked high and low, and it wasn’t as if she was intentionally careless with it, but it was missing nonetheless. Yet it never left her mind. She frequently asked over the last 8-9 months if we had found it. I believe that no matter how long something or someone has been lost, God has a way of returning them. It may not be in the way we think or even in our timing, but God’s Word says that He will restore everything that has been lost.
God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors. God, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children’s hearts, freeing you to love God, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live. God, your God, will put all these curses on your enemies who hated you and were out to get you. And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all his commandments that I’m commanding you today. God, your God, will outdo himself in making things go well for you: you’ll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life (Deuteronomy 30:3-9 MSG).
Is there Someone or Something you have lost and want returned?
Then ask the Lord if He would return it:
“Lord, I want _______________ BACK!”
Let’s expect God to move in miraculous ways!
Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
I have been teaching these classes internationally for the last 10+ years equipping and training believers in discerning the Ways God speaks. God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
2. My new membership site, d2htrainging.com has official opened, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “Will You Sit with Me?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
I remember misplacing my watch when I was young and looked everywhere for days before giving up, just to miraculously find it almost in my face one day.
But most bizarre “return” of something lost happened 20+ years later. My daughter, then a toddler, dropped my ring on the floor and it appeared as if the floor had swallowed it. As you can imagine, we scanned every millimeter of the room, to no avail. We moved out (actually had to escape due to the war)and let an acquaintance move in hoping to return to our house and everything in it once the war was over. Well, that never happened. We lived 6 years in Germany before moving to the States in 1998.
Last year, through even more bizarre contacts, the son of our acquaintance sent me a message that his mom wanted to return the ring she found in our house (they only lived there for a couple of months and we never kept in touch!)
“Ask and you shall receive”
Jas – I love this testimony!!!! Wow that is amazing and all those years ago when you lost something so precious and valuable and to have it returned!!! God is so good and yes, most definitely ask and you shall receive. Thank you for sharing
Congratulations that you book is moving forward! Lots and lots of hard work for you, I’m sure. May God strengthen you and give you discernment as you comb through your words for clarity and accuracy!
Michele – thank you, it is exciting and I am thoroughly enjoying it… but it is definitely a whole new ball game working with an editor and a traditional publishing house versus self publishing. I totally receive your words of encouragement the are much needed. Thank you!
What a great message, Debbie! Thanks for the uplifting message and hosting the party!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie and thanks for linking up with me each week.
I always pray when I’ve lost something – and 99% of the time the Lord will lead me to the lost item. The other 1% ? I figure He doesn’t want me to find it! LOL! Thanks for the Thursday linkup!
Susan – I am the same way! Thanks for linking up each week and for taking the time to share your thoughts as well.
What a wonderful story, Debbie. I’m so glad your mom found her watch, and you share such encouragement through scripture here. Glad to link up with you again!
Sarah, I am too, but I think my mom was even more, she was so over the top excited. LOL Thank you for linking up each week.
Debbie, Don’t you worry a bit about commenting every week when we link-up. : ) We know you love us! Thank you for hosting each week! ????
Thank you Leslie – I so appreciate knowing that you understand why the comments were missing and yes, I do love you all and enjoy catching up with your posts each week, but something had to give this past week. Thank you for continuing to link up each week as well.
I lost one of my watches about 2 months ago. I keep waiting for it to show up in an unexpected place. I love how God often restores things to us in new forms or in weird places; he is full of surprises!
Lisa, don’t be too surprised if it all of a sudden appears now that you have read this post. LOL God loves to work that way to bring encouragement to our hearts that He sees and knows us. He is most assuredly full of surprises! I can’t wait to hear about where you find your watch… keep me posted 🙂
Debbie- great post! I’m glad your mom found her watch, what a surprise after all that time!
I enjoy linking up here:)
Thank you Julie! She is so very glad she found t too, and a complete surprise to all of us. I sometimes wonder if God says, “watch this” and then waits to see how we will respond and how excited we become. Thanks for linking up.
Dear Debbie,
I loved this post, and found such encouragement here. There are hearts I am praying for to be restored to their Lord–so, yes! I want to believe God for that finding and restoring! Thank you for the link-up here. Blessings and Prayers for you as you follow God’s Leading!
Thank you Dear Bettie! I am so glad that you found encouragement here. I hope you said the pray and declared that you wanted ,insert each persons name> Back! There is such power in our words and God wants them restored too. I am so glad you link up here and thanks for your prayers as well.
What a neat story! I’ve had that happen a few times before and yet I still am amazed whenever I hear of it happening again! I hope you’re having a great middle-of-May!
Thanks Lisa! It is amazing when things turn up that we think are long gone isn’t it. I am having a good mid-May, but wow, it’s almost over. I hope yours is good too!
This parable give me continual hope for dear loved ones, especially when so many years are spent praying for them to truly comprehend the love of God. Thanks for this encouragement Debbie!
You are most welcome for the encouragement Crystal. I pray that you will begin to see movement towards their return before the end of the year, may it be a question asked here or a request for prayer, or simply a softening of their hearts. Thanks for sharing your heart with me about your loved ones. I am praying with you.
I so love that about my God – that He wants back what I’ve lost even more than I do. thanks, sweet Debbie! Now rest this weekend.
God is amazing that way isn’t He. I am hoping to relax on our deck with the sun shining a good book and even write some Saturday and after church on Sunday -we are finally going to get several days of sunny and warm weather – it’s time to break out the cushions for the outdoor chairs! Woo Hoo
I do misplace stuff all of the time, and I pray for God to help me find it. He does! He does care even about the small things. Thank you for the reminder to pray for miracles. I have a few I quit praying for. I am going to be praying for the things I want back.
On a side note, I love it when you have the time to comment. Your encouragement means the world to me. I do however understand that is a huge time commitment to read all of the posts.
Oh Maree – You are so welcome for the reminder to pray for miracles… pray, expect, and believe. I am excited you are going to pray for the things you want back – keep me posted when they start appearing!
I just love hearing others testimonies. Also, I am so glad to know that I am not the only one that misplaces stuff. hahaha my husband and kids do too, but somehow, I always get blamed for moving it. God does care about the small and big things.
And, I do like reading and commenting and I will continue to do so as much as I can. Thank you for letting me know you are encouraged by them. That does help me know if it even matters. Also, thank you for understanding that I was unable to last week. Blessings.
This is amazing!!! Thanks for sharing!! I may be interested in guest writing. What are your topics or will you be sharing this soon? Love surveys too!
Thanks Meg! You are most welcome and I would love it for you to write something. More details will be coming soon, but I wasn’t thinking of choosing one a particular topic, I kinda like it when people can write about what God places on their heart.. but I am still praying over it – Also, I am totally open to suggestions as well. Feel free to email me, if you have some thoughts. 🙂
Thanks for hosting, Debbie!
you are welcome
Thanks for hosting and very important words that I have to remember.
You are welcome Patrick and words that I need to remember as well.
It’s hard going through life missing something/someone you love.
Especially so when it’s one of your own.
Visiting from LMM
Yes Michelle, it is so very hard to go through, but clinging to Jesus helps get us through those tough times, even the the missing, aching and hurting may still be present in our hearts and minds, Jesus can ease our pain. Thanks for visiting 🙂
Great thoughts here on losing something and the Lord’s redeeming role in anything that we lose whether it be a material item or something that is priceless like a relationship.
Praising God for His redeeming power.
Thanks Karen – Yes, there is nothing like God’s redeeming power! He truly does care about the things we care about.
I think most often I misplace my peace. I want that back. Dropping in from Holley Gerth’s link-up. I would love to come back to link-up. I could swear I could have met you at a table at Allume in South Carolina two years ago. Of course, it could just be through the blogosphere. Your book looks quite interesting.
Melinda – that is definitely something to want back! I love it and all too often I find mine missing as well. And, I was at Allume 2 years ago, so it is very possible we met there. 🙂 So awesome to have you stop by and I hope you can come back and link-up tomorrow. I am glad you find my book interesting, I like it when people are intrigued by my titles and content.