It’s amazing how a 30-minute animated movie can warm your heart and change your life in ways you may not even imagine. I found a lot of great thoughts here, even some great Biblical connections, even though it’s not a religious movie. And who doesn’t enjoy the friendly voice of Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), whose shtick is playing Stick Man trying to find his way home—sounds like a familiar Hobbit’s tale! Yes, it is a great story for Christmas, also, but it’s a great watch in any season. So, while I may be barking up the wrong tree, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you stick around, you’ll kindle some inspiration for your life!
How can you make your mortal journey back home to Heaven more extraordinary? After all, God didn’t mean for your mortal lif to bland, boring. He wants you to experience the miracles of joy, happiness, laughter! But how do you get those back when they’ve been stolen from you, or it’s been so long since you’ve felt love, laughter or even perhaps you feel/fear you’ve forgotten how, or aren’t “worthy” to experience such things? Turn to and trust the Spirit of God. It will help remind you. (JOHN 14:26, LUKE 12:12)
Do snails go out for a jog? Do sloths? Maybe they only think they’re jogging? Do snails ever run faster than they have strength? (HEBREWS 12:1, 1st CORINTHIANS 9:24, 2nd TIMOTHY 4:7-8)
Do you remember the first time you learned how to draw? Write? Imagine a deaf person being able to hear again, or for the very first time! What about a blind person who, through the Spirit of God and scientific advances in medicine can see again! These are true miracles. Now imagine the lost soul that is found, rescued and healed. (ISAIAH 53:6, LUKE 15:4-6 (lost sheep), 8-9 (lost coin), 11-32 (lost child), JOHN 9:25) That is the greatest miracle of all (LUKE 15:7, 10)!
It’s very sad when a child or A parent goes missing. Not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually (LUKE 15:11-32). What does a family do? They don’t give up! They pray always and believe they will return (HOSEA 6:1, ZECHARIAH 1:3).
The devil loves to not only separate us from our Father in Heaven, but also from our earthly families. For both provide protection and strength that is difficult to find elsewhere. But sometimes we must find other people to replace what was lost in our youth. But unfortunately, we also think this means we must replace God, too. But we don’t. Nevertheless, He is patient and will wait for us, even keep calling out to us, and help us to return (JOHN 14:1-4).
It’s good to have true friends to help pull you out of the river (i.e. keep you from making mistakes) and and keep you from falling back in!
The devil is not playing a game of fetch. He wants to keep you for forever. However, he does like to toss you about, giving you the false impression that you are free, before he runs over and chomps on you again. Then how do we get free from a poison so persistent!? There is only one way. His name is Jesus Christ. Through His love, light, power and prayer, we can be free! (ACTS 4:12)
If you find yourself lost on a beach, get to the mountaintop for a better perspective, find the way home and then build a ship and set sail!
Sometimes people don’t see us for who we truly are, a child of God. And sometimes we forget to see others for who they really are, also and always a child of God. Always remember that God always sees you for who you are. No matter how the adversary has beaten, twisted, deceived, detoured and dragged you through mud, mangled tortured and mocked you, God still sees you as His beloved child. He has not and will never forget or forsake you. Don’t forget and forsake Him either!
The devil wants you to misuse and abuse your Time, Talents, and Treasures, even your powers of creativity and creation for his work—to do anything but the work of God.
Sometimes we get stuck in the chimney of change. It’s challenging, but if we keep pulling and pushing, and even receive a helping hand from someone willing to “stick” with us thick and thin, then we will not only get out, but get clean and we can go home.
As the devil knows exactly what will destroy us, so the Lord and our Father in Heaven know exactly what will heal us and make us the most joyful, in this life and in the life to come.
You’ve got to stick together with those on your family tree, perhaps not as much as you’d like to now, but hopefully soon, or eventually and for all eternity.