Hope on the Mountain

“Suppose one of you have a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

“I have been through trauma and struggle since childhood. I have always loved the Lord, but I have not always walked in full obedience. I lost a child. I gave up drug addiction and promised God I would not go back. About 14 months ago, my health collapsed — I had a double mastectomy, then a hard intestinal blockage that led to emergency surgery, and I nearly died. I lost my job, and with slow healing and a colostomy bag, I became homeless. I need a clean place to live.”