Hey sweet friends,

Well, it’s another Monday, another glorious week of walking in the Word with God.  Remember, what we’re after, what we’re longing for, is to move from the WORDplace in His presence to the WORKplace in His power. That’s the goal.

Between my time in the Word, in commentaries, and in reading the writings of great people from which I love to learn my heart has been refreshed on so many levels. This past week I stumbled onto this quote from John Starke’s book, The Possibilities of Prayer and I just have to share it with you!

John said, “Never forget that we are wandering sons and daughters, but He is a running, embracing, throwing a celebration, kind of God.  He’s not the wander we are. We are wandering sons and daughters, but He is an all running God.” In other words, we are all prodigals at one time or another.

When I read that quote, I immediately thought of Benny Hester’s song When God Ran.  And yes, I know admitting that really dates me. But don’t worry, for those of you who haven’t a clue of what I am talking about, don’t worry, because I’m including the link to that song (I promise you— your gonna thank me later). Just be forewarned, you may need to grab a box of tissues before listening to the song.

Whenever we return…. He is the running God, the embracing God, the throw a celebration God, and the welcoming God. So, let’s talk about the story of the prodigal son for just a moment.

When we look at the story, we see that the prodigal son is thinking, ‘I’m not even worthy to be your son. I’ll be the servant.” But the Father interrupts the son’s carefully planned speech. The Father calls for the ring, the robe, and for the fatted calf to be slaughtered—calls for a celebration party to be thrown!

Hold that image. That is the picture of the heart of God—and an image I pray we never lose sight of.  We need to remember that no matter how many times we feel like the wandering, sinning, prodigal son returning home, he is the God who runs to meet us.

Okay, can I just be real for a moment?  How many times have we started January promising to do better, pray more consistently, journal more often and never miss a day of meeting with God?

Come January, many of us begin each year feeling a little bit like the prodigal. Somewhere along the way, things got a little dry and we wandered from the well, we wandered from the One whom our soul loves the most. Come January, we bow our hearts and sheepishly mumble…  ‘Here I am God, it’s me again, starting over once again.  I so want to do better; I want to seek you more. And I’m so sorry God for all the times I didn’t show up when I promised I would. Yeah, we come feeling like the prodigal.

And in that beautiful moment of coming home, of pouring out our sorrow for all the times we’ve wandered, the Father interrupts our speech with “kisses on our neck and a feasting welcome!” He throws His arms around us and says, ‘Welcome home beloved child, welcome home.’

Oh, I do hope you heard that good word. I don’t care where you are in your journey— If you haven’t journaled in years; if you haven’t been in the Word in years; if you haven’t felt close to him in years; if you’re asking, ‘Will I ever know Him the way I long to know Him; if you find yourself saying, “I’ve strayed so many time” … Then he would say to you, stop! And he will give you kisses on the neck and a welcoming feast.

When you read the prodigal’s story, do not overlook the fact that the Father has never stopped watching and waiting for the prodigal to come home. “And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NLT

Now, what I want you to do is pour yourself a coffee, or a cup of tea, or whatever beverage you prefer, then sit back, and listen to the song When God Ran.