Not Lost but Found

This entry is going to start with a story—a not-so-funny-at-the-time-but-funny-now type of story!

Every year, the OBU Campus Activities Board (CAB) puts on a show called “Spring Affair”. In this talent showcase, students perform songs and funny skits, and friends and family watch. This year’s Spring Affair theme was “Rockumentary”, included iconic songs from many decades.

For this production, my best friend, Ali, and I were responsible for costume design. We came up with creative ways to make costumes and tailor them to each person. We even had to make Mr. Potato head! During this process, we had to stay stocked up on craft items we need to produce the costumes.

And that is where the funny story comes in. We will call it the “Wal-Mart disaster/FAIL” story:

On the night right before the show, our costume committee began to run low on supplies. As a result, Ali and I were sent to Wal-Mart and the mall to get green spray paint, safety pins, black acrylic paint, and an oversized lollipop.  Since we are broke college students, we did not want this to come out of our pockets so we brought with us the CAB Wal-Mart card.

At all times when we are together, Ali and I are acting goofy and having fun. So on the way to get supplies, we are simultaneously enjoying each other’s company and trying to get the job done.  When we realize the mall doesn’t carry lollipops, we then head to Wal-Mart (the cool place to be in Shawnee) to get the rest of the items. We went all around the store to find green spray paint, safety pins, and black acrylic paint.  Once we got these items we went to check out. Everything sounds great doesn’t it? This is where it goes wrong.

When Ali and I got to the checkout line to pay, we both checked our purses to find that the Wal-Mart card had gone missing! Ali and I were sure that it was in the car, so she pulls it around to look and no card was to be found. This is when panic mode sits in. I couldn’t help but to think, “Hmmm, my first time to show responsibility to C.A.B. and I lose the card with all the money on it!” I was determined to find that card.

First, we rummage through both of our purses and her car frantically to find it...not there.

Second, we go back to the mall, where I run inside while Ali checks the parking lot… not there.

Third, we go back to Wal-Mart, where Ali runs through the parking lot looking while I look in the store…still not there.

We went on this errand at 6:00 to get these items and didn’t return to OBU until 9:30 with the supplies…but still no card.

What is so funny about this story is that I looked SO ridiculous running through these stores looking for this card. I swear it looked like I had lost a million dollars. Because of the frantic nature of my searching, some guy even stopped and asked me if I was looking for a child–how embarrassing! But like I said, in hindsight, it is reeeallly funny.

But besides it just being funny, I actually learned something that night, perhaps one of the greatest things I have gleaned this semester. When I was running through Wal-Mart I just suddenly stopped to catch my breath. And right then, I felt as though God said to me, “Child, you know how determined you are to find that card? That is how I feel about you—and so much more.”

Those words were like peace over me. 

So, the story last weekend sadly ended with Ali and me not finding the card. BUT, guess what? That is not the case with God, because in His story we are gloriously found. And if took me losing an important card to remember that, then so be it.

Few things to think about: 

Take this as a challenge to look for God even in the littlest unexpected situations because He will surely speak. 

If you are reading this and feeling lost today, go to the Lord and he will call you by name. Even if you feel far and not findable, take heart because God has found you. I know from experience, he just never lets go of his children.

Or, if you feel confident in being found by God, take time today to celebrate! Because it is something to be rejoiced daily.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.- Luke 15:24

Thanks for reading!

Karlie

P.S. The Wal-Mart staff found the card in the parking lot that following Monday! 

Into the Potter's Hands

If you were to stick your arm straight out and hold a water bottle in your hand for an extended period time it would gradually cause terrible pain to the muscles. The longer you hold it, the worse the pain will become.  And if someone held the water bottle just long enough it would eventually cause permanent damage to all the muscles in the arm.

Of course, you have to be holding that water bottle for a loooong time for it to finally cause permanent damage but the point of this analogy is to exemplify what will happen if we hold on to our past hurts in our life; the longer we hold on to past hurts the more permanent damage they will cause.

I remember hearing this example at Falls Creek 2008 from my Pastor, Deron Spoo of First Baptist Church Tulsa. I was reminded of this is when I was flipping through my old “True Images Bible for Teen Girls ” a couple days ago and I saw that I wrote this Falls Creek example on my binding. (Side note: Isn’t it so great to flip through old Bibles and journals? This lets us see how God spoke to us in the past and how he has helped us mature. It encourages me to recount my life and God’s movement in it.)

When searching through my old Bible this analogy seemed to resonate with me as deeply as it did in 2008. It spoke to my heart then during one of the hardest years of my life, when I was in the midst of letting go of the past. Now after seeing this again it is speaking in a totally different way. This time it didn’t just say, “Let go of the past,” but it said, “Let go of everything--past, present, and future.”

Past, future, and present?! Really? Letting go of the present and the future would mean letting go of my dreams --dreams that have helped me become who I am today. I wouldn’t think holding on to these would cause any harm whatsoever. But, again I hear, “Let go of everything.”

And I am very good at holding on. Holding on gives me a sense of familiarity, control, and comfort. One example of this is my wardrobe. I never get rid of clothing! I think I will eventually wear that shirt or those pants someday. But guess what? I never end up wearing them. So if I can’t let go of a piece of fabric, how am I expected to let go all of my life? And how and who am I suppose to give my life?

I first had to figure out what this “everything” is and how to let go of it. I got a pretty good idea out of one scripture I read:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

My everything is all of myself. This all of myself I must deny. And these things I deny are not necessarily bad (ex: my passion for missions, my zeal for life, my diligence with academics), yet I am expected to give them up. And you ask why would I give these things up? And who will I be giving them to?

I have come to realize they were not mine to begin with--they were the Lord’s. They were put in me by God so that he could use them for the kingdom.  Lately I have manipulated theses passions and skills in a way I thought would be best for my life. But I remember that the things I think are best for me end up not really being the best at all. So, I think that is why the Lord was beating this “letting go of everything” over my head. He wanted me to know that my everything belongs to him and I am just soft clay in the potter’s hands for him to mold. I just need to trust in his design.

But letting go of everything is not the end. The last part says, “Follow me.” And those words are so simple but so complex. I don’t think any attempt I make to unpack this loaded phrase will do it justice. But I think that is the way the Lord intended it to be. The simplicity of the phrase makes it easy for believers to follow, while the underlying complexity challenges us to trust in God for the answers.  

I’m letting go and following, trusting God that my life will be enriched and faith will be produced. This is what the potter wants for my life, and this is also what he wants for yours.

Care to join me?

Thanks for reading!

Karlie