So, Susannah is found! I want to continue today to share with you part of the last chapter of I Spy God—A God Hunt Book for Kids. As I told you yesterday, I won’t read to the end because that wouldn’t be fair. But, I do want to get to the part where Loser’s dad decides to change what his son is called.

 Loser saw his father come running across the bridge. He watched the townspeople begin to gather at the river crossing. He saw his grandparents. Even from far away, he could tell they were all smiling with relief. He saw Joey and Jimmy appear from the bushes.

And Loser felt good, felt good standing at the top of his world, looking down on them all. He had found something! He had found the most precious thing in the world, something he really loved.

Muffy had reached them, and the three of them—the boy, the little girl, and the dog—began to run to meet the search party. He heard his father calling, “She’s okay. Loser found her. Susannah is okay.”

The river bell began to ring another tone this time, a faster note, Bong-bong. Bong-bong. Its metal tongue called the rest of the searchers from far downriver, called them back and told them that all was well.

They were at the bottom of the hill now. Loser’s mother grabbed Sus in her arms, lifted her in the air, and hugged her tightly. “Oh Susannah,” she whispered into the little girl’s neck, “we thought you were drowned.”

“I was shtuck,” said the muffled voice. Sus’s nose was pressed against her mother’s cheek.

“Good work, Son,” said Loser’s father. “Where did you find her?”

“In the crawl space under the river shack.”

“Hey! Hey!” said his grandfather, coming up behind them. “I told you he would find things when he wanted them badly enough.” The old man clapped the boy on the back. He called to his friends, the townspeople. “Her brother found her. Loser found Susannah.”

They began to walk up the hill to the house. Loser’s mother thanked her friends and neighbors. Schmidt and Schwartz had reached the gathered crowd. “Hey, Susannah!” They shouted, laughing. “We didn’t mean for you to really get lost!”

“I wasn’t losht. I was shtuck,” she protested from her mother’s arms.

Loser’s father put his hand on his son’s shoulder. They reached the back door of their house. The grandparents climbed the hill more slowly.

“Good work, Son,” his father said again. “Hey, let’s get rid of that silly nickname. Hey, everybody! From now on, this boy’s name is Luther. Luther Alexander Schweibert. He’s a finder. That’s what he is. He’s not a loser. He’s going to make a fine man!”

It seemed to Luther Alexander Schweibert as though his father’s voice echoed over the entire town.

Let’s stop there. It’s not the end of the story, but we do know that Loser has become a finder. And that’s what I’ve wanted for all of you reading this blog during this multi-part series of blog posts. To be more specific, if you’re someone who has always had a hard time sensing the closeness of the Lord, during these days I’ve wanted you to move into the category of the proficient “God Hunters”—that’s Christians who believe they regularly experience the presence of the Lord. My expectations were that many of you, who several weeks ago would have said that was next to impossible, would by now be convinced that it’s not. On top of that, you should be enjoying the learning process. Hopefully it’s been fun for you!

I’m not quite finished with what I want to share with you. So, after you’ve enjoyed a pleasant weekend—including time spent worshiping in church with your friends and family—I invite you to return to my blog on Monday. Okay?

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

Share and Enjoy

After taking my normal mid-week break yesterday to share a “Preaching Tip” with pastors, I want to continue today to explore a very critical spiritual disciple that we call Going on a God Hunt. What we’re doing is learning how to begin to look for evidences of God making His presence known in our everyday worlds. Specifically, we’re exploring evidence of God at work in our lives through unusual linkage or timing.

As we continue our discussion, please allow me to share with you part of the last chapter of I Spy God—A God Hunt Book for Kids. I won’t read to the end because that wouldn’t be fair. But, I do want to get to the part where Loser’s dad decides to change what his son is called.

You will recall that Loser always seemed to lose things. And now he’s lost his little sister, and the whole town is looking for her. They’re afraid that maybe she has drowned.

 Loser tore at the catch lever. He threw the door open. Muffy came wiggling through the too-tight doorway, then bounded out, his rear end waggling opposite from his head. He licked Loser’s face. Then Susannah crawled out.

“We went to shleep,” she said. “I knew you wash inshide, Losher.”

Loser hugged her. He said, “Susannah, everybody is looking for you. They were ringing the river bell.”

The three climbed up the riverbank and walked up toward the house. From the incline of the hill, Loser could see the River Brigade still combing the banks downstream. “Muffy,” said Loser. “There’s Mom. Go find Mom!”

The dog looked toward where the boy’s finger was pointing. Then Muffy tore off down the hill, scrambling past backyards, bouncing through the long grass, his gray and white coat of hair flopping as he bounced. He dashed across Main Street where the bridge was, then down the riverbank. The boy watched as the big sheep dog found his mother. He saw her throw her arms around the dog, saw Muffy begin to scramble back his way, and saw his mother glance up.

He lifted his little sister in his arms. He waved. He shouted, “Mom! Mom! I found Sus! She’s okay!”

His mother waved back, then turned toward the riverbank, toward the searchers. She put her hands to her mouth. Loser couldn’t hear her voice, but he knew that soon the whole town would know his little sister was safe, that she had been found. He knew that no one would complain about the river bell calling them to search—as long as the child was unharmed.

As much as I enjoy sharing this story, I think I’ll stop there for today and pick up the rest of the story tomorrow.

By the way, this book that I’m sharing parts of with you, I Spy God—A God Hunt Book for Kids, offers genuine help wrapped up in a delightful reading experience for children. If you would like a copy, you may order it by clicking here.

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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?

Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?

David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.

We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.

For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.

Share and Enjoy