Show Value to the Unnoticed

Waitresses are usually that faceless person who scribbles down your order and you never give them a second thought. We rarely go to our local restaurant but last night we went to dinner. We recognized our waitress from a long time ago. We exclaimed our happiness to see her again. It had been 1.5 years. Later after our check, I asked about her story and how was she affected by our wildfire in 2020? She was able to talk about how scary it was in the 50 mph winds and crashing trees. The evacuation and having to leave the cat behind. Her neighbors house burned down, but after 1 month evacuation, she found her house still standing. It is very healing to be amble to talk about the experience. We told her our fire story and how God has always been faithful and will continue to provide for us even in our uncertain house situation. We all were grateful how God always cares for us in every situation. We gave her a double tip to bless her day.

I have a friend at work and she isnt a Christian while I am recently born again. I have been trying to subtly bring her to Jesus and invite her to church. A couple weeks ago one of my churchleaders gave me the money she got from the church and while I didnt need the money I think God knew how I was struggling with my anxiety and depression and sent her to me to let me know that someone cares. It was a moment where I didnt know what I needed until it was given to me. I didnt want to just spend it so I have been carrying it with me everywhere so I could also pass it to someone who needed it. I came into work today and she was in a bad mood upset about a lot of things that have not been going her way and I felt like in that moment I was told to give it to her. So I explained how it had come to me and while she may not need it to pay for anything I wanted her to know that someone out here cares and that God still loves her.

Our family has been searching for our match on a teen boy from foster care for quite a while now. There was a very discouraged teen that lives at a local youth shelter that would repeatedly tell his caseworker and counselor “No one wants me.” His workers would tell us that he feels unlovable. We received the call today that our family is a match! This young man is going to have a home and family! And we feel so blessed that we are going to have another son!

She is old and family is busy with their lives. I visit, take meals and help as for own family.

When we read or hear the parable of the lost sheep, a lot of us tend to think of ourselves as the shepherd or the rescuer. But, you're the sheep. You're the lost sheep. You're either the lost sheep who has been found, or you are the lost sheep that he is searching for.  We’ve probably all heard or said ourselves that we have been searching for God. But can we tell you something? We understand what you mean when you say you're searching for God, but you need to understand that God is not lost. Maybe what you need to do instead of searching, is to stop hiding because he searching for you. In Genesis 3, when sin enters the world, Adam and Eve's very first response is to hide from God, but God searches for them. And God is searching for you. Some of you think you've been searching for God, but really what you've been doing is looking in certain places for a certain kind of God. What you need to do is just come out from hiding, so that you can be found by him.  If you're ready to do that, he is ready to put you on his shoulders. And if you need a flock, we will surround you. We'll be in this together, loved and cared for by the shepherd.

On your path and in the circle of influences that you have, Jesus wants you to see the one and he wants you to also see their need. He wants them to be seen by you because you represent him here on earth if you're a follower of Christ.  There's something really powerful about being seen or about being cared for. It's especially true if the person is going through some kind of a difficult time and doesn’t feel noticed by others. Don't underestimate how God will use you by simply showing someone that they have value. If you send a text and check up on someone, if you take somebody a cup of coffee, or just give them a word of encouragement, God can use that interaction in amazing ways.  People often feel seen by God when they feel seen by others. And God wants to do this through you for people one at a time in your life. It looks different for everyone, so only you know who that person or people are and what that looks like. But ask, "God, who do you want me to see?"

Followers of Christ are made to go after the people who were a part of the flock, but have wandered off. We're not sure what happened to them, and sometimes we don't need to know. But we make sure that when they come back, they don't come back to shame and guilt. They come back to celebration. They come back to love, acceptance, and an open arm embrace. So, Jesus loves people with a zoom lens. He sees them. There's someone in your life right now who needs to be seen by you? We don't know who it is. We don't know if you know who it is. But maybe...you do know right away who this person is. This is our prayer: God, who is the one person who you want me to see? Who's the one person who you want to make sure doesn't go unseen?

In the telling of the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus is helping the religious leaders and people understand that he sees each sheep as his own. Many times, we hear the lost sheep interpreted this parable to mean someone who wasn't a Christian, someone who was outside of the church from the start. But, but really what you have here is someone who was a part of the flock, a part of the community, but wanders off.  And Jesus says that one's mine! He takes notice because it belongs to him. Just as the shepherd feels responsibility for the sheep; to take care of it. The Bible would teach us that this is how Jesus sees each one of the sheep in the flock. He belongs to Me. She belongs to Me. This is my son. This is my daughter. He searches for the one. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. He doesn't curse it out or beat it with a staph until it gets back to the flock. He picks it up, rescues it, and goes back home. And he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep!”