Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
And…a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out…to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself, he said…I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son…’ And he arose and came to his father.”
Luke 15: 11-20 (ESV)

Pretty desperate place that younger son found himself in. 

Alone. Homeless. Resources all gone.   

He had turned away from his father and family.

And there he was—unable to see any possibilities before him—facing what seemed to be the end of it all.

Ever been there? 

Defeated. Desperate. Can’t move forward. Feeling less than yourself. 

Failed and fallen short again. Ashamed, once again.

Empty days without direction. Tired. Feeling all alone. 

Let down, tolerated but not accepted. Invited, but not welcome. 

Least. Last. Lost. Totally.

The younger son was there. Feeling all of that and more. 

How about us? Really, honestly?   

I wonder if we have been there at some point in our lives.

Feeling all alone.  Defeated. Looking for meaning in life. And too often looking in all the wrong places. 

Unable to get past the past. Feeling unworthy, unwelcome, least, last, and lost.

The younger son was there. Until “he came to himself.” Until he remembered who he was. 

Until he heard his father’s voice again—deep within himself.

Calling out his name. And he began running home.

Here are some powerful words of hope and encouragement for times like that which we might go through, like the prodigal son did, from a new song entitled “Running Home” by Cochran & Co—

“It’s been a long time running down a dead-end road,
Lookin’ for that something that could fill my soul.
Never found what I was searching for.
It’s been a long time running from a messed-up past
But you can’t go forward when you’re lookin’ back.
But I ain’t looking back anymore,
He called my name, and He stole my shame.
Everything changed when I came running home.
(I’m running, I’m running home)
Out of the dark, into His arms
No more running away, I’m running home…”  

Feeling all alone. Defeated. At a dead end. Desperate. Can’t move forward. Feeling less than yourself. 

Failed and fallen short. Ashamed, once again.

Empty days without direction. Tired. 

Feeling least. Last. Lost. 

Shhh. Listen—He’s calling your name.

Time to be running home to your Savior! Always!

In His Name–Scott

Enjoy this performance by Cochran & Co. of their song “Running Home.”