Last night, the Corbin household celebrated the safe return of Mutima, the Bernese Mountain Dog.

We were pet-sitting for our son and his family last weekend. On Friday night, we put the pets to bed, but when we awoke on Saturday, Mutima was missing. Our hearts sank as frantic searching revealed no clues.

The search eventually expanded. His absence was posted on social media, and one neighborhood social media site said it was the most commented-on post in years.

Hundreds of posters were put up. Neighborhoods were canvassed door to door, and more people than I can count donated hours searching for her. Every dog walker and jogger in the area was keeping their eyes open. People searched the parks and woods with thermal imaging gear and drones. Hundreds of people were praying.

Several times, she was spotted alive and well, then disappeared again. The outpouring of support from friends, family, and even random strangers was heartwarming.

Last night, she was spotted holed up in a little den in the woods on the side of a nearby mountain and safely returned home. She had been found at last. We are glad to see the end of a long-feeling ordeal.

It got me thinking of the faithfulness of God.

Jesus said,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:1-7

God scours the highways and byways, the fields, forests and hedgerows, mountain tops, and valleys in search of the lost. His eye sees places no human eye could ever see, and He calls the lost faithfully.

No search in the world can ever compare to God’s desire to bring us to salvation.

When one of us comes to Him, all heaven rejoices.

I am so glad that Mutima was returned safe and sound, but I will eternally rejoice and be grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness.

Praise His unwaveringly faithful name.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Subscribe today 

Find us on Facebook

Find us on Instagram

Visit our Homepage

Find us on Pinterest

___________________________________________ 

(c)2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

You Might Also Like

1355 – Lost – January 27, 2024

Issue 1232 – Working Like A Dog – August 26, 2023

The drivers in Abbotsford are often incredibly  aggressive. They tend to drive too fast, follow too closely, and not use their signals. If you happen to drive the speed limit, you will annoy plenty of people. Often, a lot of horn honking, yelling, and hand gestures are involved.

I know there are plenty of exceptions, but when you drive, you are almost taking your life into your own hands. I’m sure our community is not alone in this phenomenon, which seems to be getting worse all the time.

I frequently have to remember a mantra a friend in our community group uses when driving, “Grace and Space.” It would help if you gave other drivers both. When I am driving, I often repeat that mantra to myself.

We need it in the church as well. You likely know the well-meaning people in your local assembly who walk up to people they barely know and attempt to correct their appearance or lifestyle loudly. It makes me cringe when I see it.

It is even worse when they do it in the community to random strangers.

I will confess that they are sometimes bang on the money with their criticism. Yet, I can almost guarantee that the “advice” will likely be ignored or worse.

We are not called to be the Holy Spirit for others. Yes, there is a time and place for correction or church discipline, but this behavior typically is neither. 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:1-6

We need the grace to forgive, the wisdom to know when to speak, and the space to build relationships.

We cannot expect non-believers to live like Christians. Even Christians need help living as they should. Without the grace of Jesus, we’d be sunk.

I know I’m a work in progress, and much needs repair. You wouldn’t have to look hard to find something to criticize. I also know that God will finish what He starts, so I’ll get there according to His timing—which may not be according to my or your timing.

Please give other people the grace you would like to receive.

Let’s be sure the Spirit is prompting us before we begin to critique others. 

Grace and space, my friends. Grace and space.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

___________________________________________ 

(c)2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.