Welcome.

It’s terribly hard for me to go into a thrift store and walk out with only one item. Terribly hard might not even be the right two-word combination.

More like positively impossible.

Today I walked into a local thrift store to find a gently used coat to donate to our local Homeless Standdown community event happening this November. I secured that item, but then found myself afterwards meandering over to the pictures.

My eyes fell on this one:

I grew up with this picture. My mom gifted my dad with it, and it hung in their bedroom. I remember my dad especially feeling fondly towards it.

Brought to the world by Walter Hunt, this precious painting has inspired so many – me included.

I especially love the following insights from Jesus loving Rebecca Davis. She wrote,

“When I was growing up, this picture hung on my grandmother’s wall. I remember studying it as a child, absorbing the story it tells.

The helpless lamb. The faithful shepherd dog calling for help.

The vultures in the background just waiting for the dog to give up and trot away to the warmth of home.

One day as I was cleaning out a closet, I came across that very picture–I had forgotten that I had it. I studied it again, and all the same feelings washed over me, but now even more.

This dog has only limited ability to help the lamb himself, but he’s trusting that the shepherd will come and complete the rescue.

We, the Church, are to be like that shepherd dog. We are commissioned to guard and protect helpless and endangered souls.

And as we do, we call on the Shepherd to come and complete the Rescue. He is the only one who can do so.

And when He comes and takes the lamb on His shoulders and says to his friends, “Rejoice with Me, because I have found My sheep that was lost!” we will be there, rejoicing with Him.

This, my friends, is real, true Christianity. When it is walked out in faithfulness, it is a beautiful thing.” (https://heresthejoy.com/2016/11/the-picture-on-my-grandmothers-wall/)

Indeed it is!

Though limited in the scope of what he could offer in way of help, the collie offered what he possessed. He gave his barking call in great urgency to summon the one who he knew could “complete the rescue.”

Gosh, I love that.

“He’s trusting that the shepherd will come.”

Gosh, I love that. Even more.

Unto all the world: “The shepherd will come and complete the rescue.” Let us do what we can to start it.