Pursued

We have a new addition to the family. A 7 month old Robo Dwarf hamster named Rhino. Rhino joined our family yesterday and was given to my daughter from a friend at church who is moving away within the next couple of months. Now the fun part. Yesterday-Rhino's first night with us, after a day of serving at church, then going for a late lunch and catching the movie 'Up", we came home to finish up some home repairs, clean and then rest. It is 10:15 pm and I hear my husband say "Oh no- you lost him!" I am in the bedroom watching TV and I immediately go to my daughter's bedroom door. She is looking distraught and her room looks as though her closet has vomited clothes everywhere. I asked her what happened. She goes on to explain that as she was holding her new pet, he jumped out of her hand and now she can't find him. I think- oh no- not a rodent loose in my house! I also think- oh no- a rodent loose in my house- our 3 year old cat Bella is going to have a snack! I immediately ask, "Where's Bella?" My daughter then proceed to tell me that she has locked Bella in the downstairs bathroom in order to prevent my last "oh no!" We then begin the daunting task of trying to find a 3 ounce brown and white hamster who has lightning speed -somewhere in my daughter's room. She mentioned that she saw him dart behind the Winnie the Pooh recliner - a cute little thing I purchased for her when she was 2 years old. However, when she lifted up the recliner, she didn't see him. Now this recliner is about 10 years old. I hadn't wanted to get rid of it due to sentimental reasons- yea right. I lifted it again, and of course- no sign of Rhino. We then painstakingly and systematically check every corner of her bedroom and closet. No Rhino. The thought then occurs to me- Bella. Let's use Bella to sniff out the rat- oh I mean- hamster. I go downstairs- release Bella from her dungeon and proceed to take her upstairs to my daughter's room. By this time, my husband has constructed a barricade in front of my daughter's door- primarily her shoes. I thought- good idea- so I added a few books to it to make sure the little darling doesn't get out and have the rest of my house to explore. Now back to Bella- now before you Peta people get all upset- the plan was to bring Bella in, let her help us in locating the hamster and interceding before dismemberment and feasting- in other words- before she ate the hamster. I would like to say Bella did a great job. I can't! Bella sniffed the cage, sniffed the table, sniffed the closet, sniffed the recliner- lingered there a little while- looks up at me as if to say- you're on you own and then carefully steps across the magnificently constructed barricade of shoes and goes back downstairs. Some help she turned out to be! I then decided to get online and do research about the hamster. I found out that they can be escape artist-no joke- and enjoy hiding out in furniture. Equipped with this new knowledge, I advised my daughter to turn out the light- by the way these little joys are also nocturnal- and listen for noise. I did notice that Bella spent some time sniffing around the Winnie the Pooh recliner so suggested my daughter sit near it and listen intently. She did so for about 10 minutes and then informed me that she thought she heard something. So- my husband and I both joined her on the floor, in the dark surrounding this recliner listening for our sweet little Rhino. After about 10 minutes, we all agreed that we could faintly hear some scratching noises coming from inside the recliner. I thought- God please let this animal be here. I really don't want to try to even sleep until we find this thing! We gently put the recliner on it's right side and began to cut the through the outer fabric covering. I had mixed emotions-one- maybe we will find him yea!- two-oh no I am destroying a cute little recliner that has been part of my child's early years- sniff. The first emotion won out! After cutting away portions of fabric, new little areas of the recliner were exposed. During the research online, I read that these little hamsters can some time get stuck in furniture and may not be able to escape. As I continued to cut away fabric, my daughter exclaimed excitedly- there he is- I see him! We couldn't get to him due to the amount of fabric and stuffing in the way. We gently turned the recliner on the other side and began to cut more fabric away. My husband said "Hey- I just saw him peek his head out of that little hole there!" I became even more determined and cut more fabric from that area. Suddenly out came- Rhino! I grabbed his cage and put it near the recliner. My daughter grabbed one of his little clear hamster hangouts from the cage. As she went to scoop him up in her hand, he jumped off the recliner and started for the door! Thank God for my husband's engineering- the "Great wall of Nike" prevented another escape. My daughter then covered him with the little hamster hangout and carefully scooped him up and put him in the cage. It was 12:30 am! As I melted on top my bed-exhausted and excited from finding him, I clearly heard this word. Pursued. I then thought of how we vehemently wanted to find this creature and how willing I was to destroy a piece of furniture-the recliner- to do so. It's kinda like the way we are pursued by God. He was willing to sacrifice His only Son in order for us to enjoy the gift of eternal life. He pursues us with a love that is so intense and magnificent. Even when we are doing things that could bring us not only spiritual but physical death-He pursues us. Before coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ- many are bound by drugs, abuse and lifestyles that can do great harm to the body. Rhino had no clue that his little act of defiance could have cost him his life-he could have been consumed by Bella. Are we doing things that could be keeping us from fully enjoying the life God has planned for us. Is it time for many of us to heed God's call on our life? He is pursuing us to give us life and a divine plan. Are you ready to surrender? Remember- you were created for a purpose.

Renewal

Are you familiar with the story of Paul? He was born Saul of Tarsus to Jewish parents who were Roman citizens. Saul was a Roman citizen through his parents. It has been written that Saul was a tentmaker or something similiar by trade but was educated by a religious sect known as the Pharisees. This group consisted primarily of middle class men. The Pharisees rival sect was the Sadducees. The Sadducees were mostly a conservative and aristocratic priestly class. It has been written that the Pharisees were more open to religious innovation than the Sadducees. It has also been written in the New Testament that the most vocal critics of Jesus was the Pharisees. Jesus had some choice descriptive words for the Pharisees (see Matthew 23:27 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18). Saul became active in the violent persecution of Christians (see Acts 22: 3-5). However, due to a life changing, personal encounter with the Risen Savior on the road to Damascus, his life was transformed and renewed (See Acts 22: 6-13). He was renamed Paul. His encounter with Jesus, set his life on a new path. He dedicated the rest of his life to proclaiming Jesus as Savior.

Today I was reminded of Paul while studying scriptures. The scriptures that I meditated on was Romans 8:11-15. The Amplified version of Romans 8:11 reads, "And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, {then}, He who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, persishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you." Saul was a walking dead man, killing alive people-spiritually alive people. Saul was killing and persecuting people who had come to know Jesus and were therefore spiritually alive. He was blinded by religion and thought he was doing God's work by persecuting others. After his conversion, he too became spiritually alive and experienced a renewed sense of purpose and vision. Renewed is defined as to make new, restore to freshness, vigor or perfection, to regenerate-to make new spiritually. Through my study today, I began to realize how much God truly wants to restore and renew His Spirit living power in our lives. We must be willing to bring and leave things with Him that may be preventing the restoral process: hurts, rejection, pursuing our way instead of His way, seeing the jar as half empty instead of half full, and having a victim mentality- just to name a few. This Spirit is for us to live a victorious life now and everyday! Weathering each and every obstacle with God's grace and wisdom knowing that whatever comes, we have the Spirit of God within us helping us to overcome. Spend time with God today and ask Him for His renewing Spirit. Remember- you were created for a purpose!

Picture I took a year ago at camp in Southern California as we were going on a hike. God's artistry is phenomenal!

You have a purpose.

Have you ever been shopping or out in public and run into someone who definitely knew you but you can't quite remember their name? It can be a little ackward, especially if you don't want to offend that person by calling them the wrong name. It is so awesome to know that God knows each and everyone of us . The Bible even says that He knows the very number of hairs on each of our heads (Matthew 10:30). According to God's Word, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:140). Being the true artist that God is, I am quite sure that great care and details went into your specific DNA design. Not only does God know each of us, but he has a specific plan for everyone as well. He especially designed you for a purpose and plan that He wants you to do for Him (Jeremiah 29:11). Do you know what the plan is that He has called you to do? Do you want to know God as intimately as He knows you? May I suggest taking some time to read His word, pray, ask God for wisdom, fellowship with other believers(find a church home where it is real and full of accountability) and asking Him to come into your heart if you haven't done so. Just say- Lord, come into my heart and make me a new creation in you (II Cor.5:17). He is waiting!