Originally written several years ago – some content may be dated but the message is timeless.
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FINDING YOURSELF IN AN UNWELCOMED PLACE
Most of my days start with the same routine. Wake up, go turn the coffee on and go to the bathroom to take a shower, etc. Today has not really been that much different except when I got out and stopped to get my Iced Tea at Quick Trip. I do that almost every morning too, but as I came out of the store, I noticed there was a little visitor laying on the cement near the front door of this convenience store. On closer inspection I noticed it was a little brown bat. This little guy was definitely out of place there and definitely in harm’s way. I quickly grabbed a Kleenex box from my car and emptied it of the Kleenex in it. I placed a couple of Kleenex in the bottom (I thought it might like a soft place to lay) and was going to scoop up the little guy. When I tried to scoop him up he was none too happy. He opened his mouth and hissed and began this clicking sound. It kind of icked me out… but I persisted. He grabbed a hold of the open place on the box and held on as I moved him out of harm’s way. I placed him behind the trash can up next to the wall and tried to get him to go into the box. He absolutely refused… but at least he was out of the way of being stepped on. I can’t believe he had not been stepped on already! Anyway, the harder I tried the more unhappy he became, so I left him there and prayed for the little thing. Then I called Animal Control and told them about it. The call went to Voice Mail so I left a message in detail about the little brown bat. They called me back almost immediately. They were worried about the little guy only because he may have rabies or another disease and should not be in contact with people for sure. Anyway, they picked him up and I don’t know what else happened to him. I guess they will take care of him however they see fit.
I found out later that they are pretty common around here, however the uncommon thing was that it was out in the open on the cement in the morning. After reading about them, I realize that they are pretty common here in North American and Canada. It just doesn’t explain why it was laying on the cement at a convenience store store unless he was sick or injured. I will never know one way or the other. However, I do know that things like this do not happen by accident to me. I have lived long enough and walked with my God long enough that I do realize that things like this happen and God whispers to my heart… “here is another topic for you.”
This little bat was so unhappy when I tried to help him. His natural instincts kicked in and he tried to go into defense mode with me. Although I was at least 100 times bigger than him. Aren’t we like that with God though? We find ourselves in a bad situation and we have no idea why we are there or actually sometimes, how we got ourselves into that situation. Certainly, we want out of the situation and just don’t know how to get ourselves back to where we need to be. Then God, in His infinite wisdom reaches down to help us and we go into defense mode with our Creator! Oh, now I know some of us can relate to this! Really! I can for sure! He tries and tries to help us, and we keep thwarting His attempts. Then one day someone comes along and picks us up and helps us to get back to where we were… usually a friend or loved one. Sometimes if we are very fortunate, we find our way back to God on our own… but really which is better? Going through the struggle of finding our way back ourselves? Or have a loved one lovingly (albeit tough love sometimes) helping us back. I am kind of in a quandary over that because if we make the journey ourselves, we learn so much and grow from the grace and mercy we experience along the way. The other side of that is the loved one that helps us, grows with us as we work together. Both are good. Both are hard work. Both are worth every tear, sleepless night, and hard times. Because the final outcome is our relationship with our God is stronger than before.
I don’t know if that little bat found its way to a safe place that it could recover or live safely. But I do know that we can find that safe place with God and Jesus Christ. They are always there waiting for us to return to them if we have been away from them at any time. God will always welcome back a loved one into His arms. The Prodigal Son story is one I can relate to in many ways. Luke 15: 11-32 talks about it. This is the main idea of the story though….
“20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[a] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”
His father was so happy to see him again he welcomed him with open arms and celebrated him and his return! That is what God will do with each of us.
Have you wandered away from God? Do you find yourself in a place that seems a bit strange and unwelcoming? Have you felt a tug on your heart? That tug is God calling you to come home to Him. He will welcome you back with open arms and celebrate your return! Reach out for Him today.
In looking for scriptures on how God considers us His beloved, I found the below information. I hope you can read these scriptures and let them soak deep into your heart and soul.
Genesis 1:26, 31 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Deuteronomy 33:12 (NKJV)
12 Of Benjamin he said: “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God![a] Therefore the world does not know us,[b] because it did not know Him.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Romans 8:14-17 (NKJV)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
John 1:12-13 (NKJV)
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Galatians 4:5-7 (NKJV)
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of[a] God through Christ. God is waiting for you to call out to Him. He loves you so much! After all, He calls you His beloved!
The Song – Mercy Came Running – Phillips Craig and Dean
In Him,
Leah
le**@my*******.com
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