This week I came across a poetic summary of the Genesis creation account. "[In the beginning] God stretched out the heavens, stippling [touching] the night with impressionistic stars. He set the sun to the rhythm of the day, the moon to the rhythm of the month, the seasons to the rhythm of the year.

He blew wind through reedy marshes and beat drums of distant thunder. He formed a likeness of himself from a lump of clay, and into it breathed life. He crafted a counterpart to complete the likeness, joining the two halves and placing them center stage in His creation where there was a temptation and a fall, a great loss and a great hiding.

God searched for the hiding couple, reaching to pick them up, dust them off, [and] draw them near. Though they hardly knew it at the time. After them, [God] searched for their children and for their children’s children. And afterward, He wrote stories [about] His search." (Windows of the Soul 16)

The season of Epiphany is a time to reflect on the God our searching God. He’s a God Who searches for His people. Sometimes that’s a tough for us to imagine God looking for us. For some of us, it’s difficult to imagine that God longs to be with us. We struggle to envision a Heavenly Father Who searches for us and reaches out to us as individuals.

But let me ask you a few questions. Did He reach out to the wise men? Most certainly. We believe with conviction that He sent a star to awaken them. We have no doubt that He loved them so much that He lead them to the longing of their hearts, the Lord Jesus.

Did God search for His chosen people the Jews? Without a doubt. Time and again He sent his servants the prophets to tell them of His love. He even revealed Himself to the Jews through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Did God make Himself known to the world at the Jordan River when Jesus was Baptized? Absolutely. The dove, the voice from heaven.

How ‘bout at the wedding of Canna? Was God searching for people when Jesus turned the water into wine? Most definitely.

Generally we have no problem believing that God searched for and reached out to the world. Sometimes we have a difficult time believing that He searches for and reaches out to us as individuals. But the Bible tells us He’s committed to us. He’s committed to reaching us with His immeasurable love.

Zephaniah 3:16-18 "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Jeremiah 31:4 "I have loved you with an everlasting love."

Lamentations 3:23 "His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24" The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Transition: This morning, I want to suggest that during this Epiphany season God is doing what He’s always done. He’s reaching out to people. He’s reaching out to you. He’s searching for people who will respond to Him. He’s looking to you for companionship. And I’d be willing to venture a guess that He’s doing it in the most unlikely manner.

I doubt that God has used stunning images to get your attention, but if He can use a star to reach the world with His love then He can use unlikely means to remind you that He loves you.

One of the most moving pieces of film I’ve ever watched is "Elephant Man." It’s based on the true story of a man with a rare disease that disfigured his appearance. He’s grotesque. But when I watched the film, God helped me to see that it’s not the Elephant Man that’s grotesque but the people who treat him like an animal.

One scene stands out in my mind. The main character has lived an isolated life. He longs to be with other people so he covers his face, leaves the seclusion of his room and ventures into a train station. The crowd discovers him and begins to unleash its venom. Terrified, the Elephant Man runs from his fellow man. They follow. The horde shouts. They threaten him and call him names. Finally, when he’s cornered, the mob closes in on him. Then you hear the sobbing Elephant Man say these words, "I’m a person too. I’m a person."

In that moment, God reminded me that dignity has nothing to do with beauty. The grotesque man had far more dignity than the cruel beautiful people. He reminded me that He loves people with visible and invisible scars.

Transition:
Toni Baird is homebound. For those of you who have spent any time indoors because of illness know how depressing it can be to be inside all the time. She’s an only child. Both of her parents are dead. She has no family in town. Her closest relative is a cousin in Wichita Falls. She’s alone.

The love of her life was a little Fox Terrier named Lady. This past fall, Lady died and Toni fell into a depression that appeared to bring her to the point of death. Since then, she’s recovered but not fully.

One day, I went to see her. On the way, I stopped by the pet store to see if the owner would let me take a puppy to see Toni. They had a Fox Terrier that looked exactly like the one she had. She left the back doorfor me. I wish you could have seen Toni’s face when I walked in with that puppy. She looked happier than I’ve ever seen her.

Transition: God can also use children. Story of Matthew in WalMart. "No momma, that’s blood."