I stopped in the Goodwill thrift-shop today in search of a much-needed pair of shoes for myself. Passing by, I had a hunch I might find what I wanted and save a few bucks.

   When I was a college student, I liked shopping in thrift shops. (If you look at some of my pictures from back then, you can tell.)   I went mostly out of necessity. I didn't have a lot of money.

   I also went because it was kind of exciting and fun. In the mountains of discarded, unneeded, unwanted, torn, scratched, and damaged stuff, I somehow always found something great. It was like winning the lottery.

   Though I don't go much these days, today I felt like God wanted me to go.

   When I walked into Goodwill, I saw the shoe racks to the left. I walked over to the rack closest to me. At the end of that rack, was my pair of shoes. It was just what I wanted, practically in mint condition, and in my size, for $3.75! It took me less than a minute to find them. I'll wear them Sunday to prove it!

   The attendant affirmed my good fortune. "You found what you wanted."

   "Yes," I replied, "I found the shoes God wants me to have."  

  "Sometimes it happens that way." She said as she smiled and nodded. "Praise the Lord."

   In fact it was even better than that. I ended up with an entire ensemble. I also found a nice shirt and a brown corduroy sports jacket.

   Life is like a thrift store. There's a lot of stuff we can't use anymore, stuff that doesn't fit, stuff that we don't like, stuff that's embarrassing, stuff we have cast off or would like to cast off. There's brokenness, disappointment, pain, confusion, mistakes...and on and on it goes.

   When Jesus comes into our lives, he takes time to look around carefully. He is genuinely interested in everything about us, especially our cast-offs. He puts on what we cast off. Some of it he takes as is. Other pieces he heals and transforms. All of it is fashioned into something useful and beautiful.

   Trusting Jesus with our "cast-offs" is hard. It's also rewarding, and life-giving.

   1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast off our anxiety. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

   Maybe anxiety is what God wants you to cast off today. Maybe it's something else. Whatever it is I am confident that if you will cast it off you will experience God caring for you in a great, big way. So cast it off!

   On a funny note, I'm reminded of a church bulletin blooper: "The women of the church have cast-off clothing. They are available for viewing in the church's basement."

   What do you need to cast off?

    See you Sunday,