"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:4 - 7
Where were you when the largest snowfall of 2021, consisting of 8+ inches, fell last Monday? Since we were on Winter Break, some of you enjoyed playing in the bountiful accumulation, while others were watching the spectacular snow fall from the warmth of your living room sofa. Some of you were blessed to be in warmer states, totally oblivious that your streets and driveways were buried under huge snow drifts!
However, as many of us were trying to keep up with the snow blowing and shoveling, I received a text midday on Monday that stated, "Abbey's dog is lost. Need all prayer warriors!"
Abbey is my Goddaughter who attends the University of Michigan and lives in Ann Arbor. Somehow, her dog, Pippa, got out on Sunday before the storm hit, and did not return back to her home. Abbey and her family searched for hours on Sunday, and their concerns began to escalate as the weather forecast continued to intensify. As a result, Abbey called upon the assistance of the U of M community through MLive, asking them to be on the lookout for a black curly haired dog. In addition, the Detroit News also picked up and shared Abbey's story with its readers as well.
As the snow fall continued to increase on Monday, so did Abbey's search for Pippa. She designed and sent out flyers and drove continuously throughout the streets of Ann Arbor. As the storm continued to strengthen, the howling winds served as a reminder for me to keep praying for Abbey, and that God would help her find her dog.
Around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Abbey's phone rang, it was a fellow student saying that someone had posted on "The Nextdoor" community blog that she had spotted a black dog out in the storm, but it ran away when she tried to rescue it. Despite the intense storm and falling temperatures, Abbey and her roommates jumped into her car and drove to the location that the post shared. Around 2:00 a.m., God answered our prayers, and Abbey found her dog hiding behind a local elementary school. Despite being outside for 48 hours, half of which were during a massive snowstorm, God provided a miracle and Pippa was totally fine and extremely happy to see Abbey!
Abbey's deliberate and intense search for Pippa reminds me of a parable in the Bible of a shepherd leaving his entire flock in search of one lost sheep. Just as Abbey braved the extreme elements of a massive snowstorm to look for her beloved lost dog, our Heavenly Father loves us so much and He wants to keep us close. However, if we should stray or wonder away from Jesus, He would also go to extreme lengths to find us. God wants all who are lost in sin to be rescued. He also experiences tremendous joy when those who are lost return back to a relationship with Him.
This Lenten season, as we focus upon Jesus' journey to the cross, may you be reminded of God's great love for you. He is always with you, and you will never leave His sight!
In His Love,
Mrs. Palka