LOST...

        Have you ever waken up somewhere and wondered: "How on earth did I get here?" "How did life end up like this?" "Why has this happened to me?" "Where's God while all of this is going on?" I think all of us have asked questions like this at one time or another. That's what we're talking about in our new message series, LOST which kicks off this weekend! I need you help, though. Drop me a comment and describe a time when you or someone you know has felt  "LOST". It will give me some great every day examples to talk about in my message this weekend!  You can help me teach this weekend! Don't worry,  I won't mention you by name! Just describe a time when you or someone you know felt "LOST". Look forward to hearing your stories!

Comments

[Bill]

Shawn,

Btw, thanks again for the time last week. I enjoyed the time to meet and see and hear your heart and vision.

Lost- 3 years ago. Sold house and moved family to finish seminary, believed and heard from God to move from a college para-church ministry into the local church. I felt very certain of this calling. Upon finishing seminary and looking for a pastor position, every door slams shut in my face.

I felt LOST. For a whole year, asking why God? what are you doing God? didn't I hear from you God?

I year later, instead of trying to kick down closed doors, God swings wide open a door,which is where my family and I are currently.

I felt LOST, God was simply saying WAIT. He needed to do some pruning in my life that year. He needed to break me in new ways so that I would trust and lean on Him.

I felt LOST, but He was always there.

Thats my story,

Bill from Big Creek

[Leslie Schmidt]

Hey Shawn,

I know what you mean about "how did I get to this place in my life?" 6 months ago- I thought my life was gong to fall apart and all I kept saying is how in the world did I end up like this. My boys and only granddaughter, who lived with us since the day she was born. They all up and left for Texas. Talk about rocking and losing your world. So we decided to downsize, move and start over. Well, we might not ever know how we get where we are, BUT GOD always does. We start at MLC and I just found out that my granddaughter and son,and daughter- law- are moving back to Georgia this month. Also all 3 of their names were on the wall at MLC. So we might be lost or not know where we are or where we are going. BUT, God always knows. So like you always say we need to give it all to GOD and I have!!!!!
GOD IS GREAT!

[Nolan Bobbitt]

Hey Shawn,

I feel "Lost" right now. I have spent 15 of the last 17 years of my life working for churches. After a very rough experience at a church where I felt "called" to go to, I find myself serving lattes at your favorite place while my wife and daughter and I live with my gracious inlaws. Like everyone else, I am by no means a perfect Christian, but even in my faith, I find my heart drawn to ministry, yet no "door" is opening. I know I am found in an eternal spiritual sense, but I am definitely "Lost" on life's journey in other ways.

[Michelle]

I definately can't wait for this series to begin, because here lately LOST is a word I am facing every time I turn a corner. I had lost touch with God for about 6 or 7 years due to me living of the world. Back in early 2007 I decided to get help, so I entered into a Christian based treatment facility for 8 weeks. I came out of there feeling like a million bucks. I had regained my connection with God, and had such an amazing outlook on life.

Now its August of 2007 and in the past 2 and half months I have been up to my old ways. I have let my alcoholism get the best of me. Every time it happens I wonder where was God before I took this drink? Why do I have to live with this disease? Why me?

While in treatment one of the verses we had to memorize was 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says "13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." A favorite verse of mine but often wondering where is my way out? Where is God to help me with these temptations? I think I often don't look far enough or don't ask soon enough.

So here lately I am feeling so LOST? LOST in the world. LOST in my search for a better life. And most of all I feel like I am LOSING my battle with my addiciton. I know God had a great plan for my life if I let him take control. I just feel LOST in the dark right now.

[SALLY]

Shawn

Two years ago my husband of 33yrs decided he just did not wannt to be married anymore. to say the least I was totally blindsided the idea of divorce had never crossed my mind. I felt very LOST I had been married since I 18, I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I had moved to an apartment, and begain looking for church, I have been a Christian for 30yrs and I recieved a flyer from Mountain Lake in my mail,so I came and haven't been anywhere else since. I got involved in a growth group right away. I have met some great woman whom without them I don't know where I would be. I don't know what God has in store for me, but some amazing things have happened that have given me opportunities to share my faith with people that have never heard the gospel(I find it amazing how in the US there are some people who have never owned a Bible and know nothing about God) I believe that me coming to know them is what I call a God thing, meaning there is no other explaination for things that happen.
I am still a little LOST but I am finding my own way and truthfully I am happier than I had been in a long time.

[Ray]

I was lost about 4 yrs. ago and I didn't realize it till I was found. Noone can be found unless they know they are lost.
Spiritually I had no sense of direction. I didn't grow up in a church or for that matter ever attended one (maybe that was a good thing). The only time I heard God thanked was in the most serious circumstances or in passing over Thanksgiving dinner.

As an adult the only knowledge I had of God was through television or the occasional visit to church on Easter or Christmas. I had a good understanding of who God was but I threw up so many hurdles and obstacles that I never got to see Him or experience Him. There were glimpses of Him and then I would shut my eyes and say I need to get my life together before I can follow you.
Thankfully through MLC & my wife all those barriers were tore down. They said no one has all the answers. There was nothing I could do to earn His love and forgiveness. It is something I would just have to accept and finally I did.

So I have the map, I know where I am and I have the perfect model of where I'm going. The way I get there isn't clear but the reassurance that I am not alone and Christ is guiding me there give me hope. The most exciting thing is all the people I'll pass that can't see clearly and are lost. I can show them the map.

[B]

Lost - there have been several signicant times of feeling lost in my life. First time that I really realized that there must be something to this God thing was when I was trying to conceive my first child and things just were not going as planned. I knew of God, I had been to church with my Grandmother on many occasions, but never understood how to have a relationship with Him. I was taught more "fear" not love. After about 3 years of trying I was truly heartbroken, and devastated after 2 miscarriage and many many infertility treatments. I recall sitting in church and just sobbing asking God what I had done so wrong that I deserved this. When they called alter call, I hate to say but I didn't move...I was frozen although I knew God was calling me. It wasn't until after my first child was born that I thanked God daily for this blessing but I still didn't concede to the call He had on my life. My husband and I were at totally different spirtual roads and I was scared to take that step without him, I thought it should be something we do together or that it would tear us apart. Finally when my daughter was almost 4 I made that step and committed my life. I actually at that point thought my husband was angry with me, he wouldn't attend church, he didn't attend my baptisim, I was crushed. I did a serious back slide about a year later because I was trying to please the world, my husband and not God. Finally I woke up one morning and God spoke LOUD and CLEAR, he said "It is about ME and you, not everyone around you, I will work those things out", that evening I attended MLC and knew I was "home". The very place God would change my life and heart forever. My husband attended the following weekend and it has been 3 years now that he has been baptized and honestly is the most spiritually mature person I know. God changed me, my life, my marriage and my children....He was always right beside me and deep down I knew that but denied it. Not till I started listening did I understand that He was the ONLY way and all things would work to His good. He had a plan and as always it is perfect.

[Andrea]

There is nothing that will ever compare to the love of Jesus Christ. When we feel God is far away he is really right beside us. When others do not know what you are going through the Lord knows, sometimes all we need to do is just not worry so much about the future, but let go and just let God take control
~Andrea