Lost & Found: Reflections on the Parables of Luke 15

By Melissa M. Garner

WHERE DO YOU TURN WHEN LIFE NO LONER FEELS FAMILIAR...WHEN YOU ARE LOST AND DON'T KNOW YOUR WAY HOME?

So many of us at one time have been lost in life. We have a million questions and no answers.

• What's wrong with me?
• How did I get here?
• How can I make it better?
• How do I get back to where life is "right

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887389332

Melissa M. Garner

Born and raised in Small Town USA, Alexandria, Indiana, I grew up under parents who taught me the importance of knowing and loving God. I have had an attraction to words, both reading them and writing them, since I can remember. Armed with these and a deep love for Jesus, as an adult I began writing only for Him. Though I've had some small success with a personal blog, this is my first published work.

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LOST & FOUND

reflections on the parables of luke 15

Melissa Garner

Trilogy Christian Publishers

Tustin, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

LOST & FOUND: Reflections on the Parables of Luke 15

Copyright © 2023 by Melissa Garner

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 979-8-88738-932-5

ISBN 979-8-88738-933-2 (ebook)

Dedication

To my sister, Julie, who always believed in me.

I love you!

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. The Parables and Why He Told Them

Chapter 2. Of Sheep and Coins

Chapter 3. The Prodigal

Chapter 4. The Good Life

Chapter 5. Happily Ever After?

Chapter 6. The Lost...

Chapter 7. More on the Pursuit

Chapter 8. The Man After God’s Own Heart

Chapter 9. The Big Picture

Chapter 10. Welcome Home, Now What?

Chapter 11. We’re All in This Together

About the Author

Preface

I have attempted to undertake the writing of this book a few times, relying on my own efforts. Now, relying on God’s leading, it has finally come to completion—as does everything in His hand and in His time.

Knowing that what I have written is going out into the world to be read and taken in, it is my sincere hope that the words I have put down will reflect and reveal God’s heart for His children. With that as my prayer, I have written these words for you.

Chances are that since you’ve read the title and picked up the book, you may be feeling a little lost in life. Maybe a little off, a little confused, or a little frustrated—searching for your way. Maybe you are way beyond that, wandering in the dark, starving for you don’t even know what, not even realizing that you are what is lost. Maybe you are certain that you are lost, and you’re just as certain that you are too far gone to be able to get back to found.

Please, let me tell you something about God.

God’s love is incredible!

Do you find that statement difficult to believe? Don’t feel bad if you do; most of us have at one time or another. We’ve even questioned the reality of God’s love. Is it real? Is it conditional? How can He possibly still love me when I just walked away? At what point does one simply become a lost cause to Him?

How can His love be real in this pain? This addiction? This darkness? This fear? Guilt? Betrayal? Failure?

How can God love me when I don’t even like, much less love, myself?

If any of this is familiar, or if you’re exploring, curious, confused, or questioning, let me let you in on some really good news…

Not only does God love you…

Not only is His love unconditional, personal, incredible, giant, and eternal…

God’s love for you is relentless!

So whether or not you decide to read this book, He wants to speak to you, and I urge you to read His Book. If you are feeling lost, I suggest you begin with the parables of Luke 15 and pray for God to reveal His Truth to you.

This is exactly where we are going to spend our time together, learning how Jesus sees the lost among us, and how these parables also point to all of His Word, work, promises, and most of all—His love.

Before we go on, please allow me to pray for you.

Lord God, You are incredible, and because You are Your Love can be nothing less. Thank You that You love us so much that You desire a personal relationship, that you want it so much that You don’t wait for us to realize it, but You pursue us for no other reason than so You can shower all of that incredible love on us. I pray right now for the one reading this, your beloved child. I pray that the eyes of [their] understanding be enlightened and that they may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3: 18–19, NLT), and believe that Your love is not only amazing, but that You are relentless in Your pursuit of loving us.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Chapter 1

The Parables and Why He Told Them

Did you know that the Parable of the Lost Son is the longest in the Bible? Also known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, it tells the story of a young man who