The Lost Lamb

 Issue 30             [March 14, 2011]

   The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across the room. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..." 

     "You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.  The surgeon looked up, annoyed.
 
     "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done."
 
      "But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there."  

     The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly.  "When I see how much damage has been done I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."
 
     "But you'll find Jesus in my heart.  The Bible says He lives there.  The hymns all say He lives there.  You'll find Him in my heart."
 
     The surgeon had had enough.   "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart.  I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."
 
"You'll find Jesus there too.  He lives there."
     
      The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery,.. "damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.  No hope for a transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:  painkillers and bed rest.  Prognosis:  here he paused, "death within one year." He stopped the recorder, and filled with frustration, he began to speak into the seemingly empty room.  "Why?" he asked aloud.  "Why did You do this, if You are God, if You've put him here, You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death.  Why?"

    Suddenly he heard a tender response to his mind.  The Lord answered and said,  "The boy, My Lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, he is part of My flock, and will forever be.  Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine.  His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow." The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter.
 
     "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months.  Why?"
 The Lord answered, "The boy, My Lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty:  I did not put My Lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb..." The surgeon wept.

   The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boys parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered,  "Did you cut open my heart?"
 
   "Yes", said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy. 

 "I found Jesus there, just as you had said," replied the surgeon.

                                            - unknown


     I have heard many people say why does God allow things to go on as they do? Why does God allow so much hatred in the world? Why, if there is a God, does he allow so many young people to die and suffer the way they do? Many times I have attempted to try to explain this, and understand why, so I can then explain when I am approached again. After I read this story I could get a better grasp on how to explain it to others.

   Why do we as saints go thru what we have to endure? Why do we suffer so much for (seemingly) no reason? Why does the evil doers prosper by the sweat of the saints? Why is it that we have no reasoning to give those around us? Many times we suffer so as to help others who may (in the future) face those similar trials. God will send us to their crossroads and be there to assist them when they might need it the most.
   
     The situations we face ARE for a reason. God does not put us thru the valley just because he is bored, or that he is on a far journey and cant be there for us. God said in his word that he would Never leave us, Nor forsake us.
Allow me to give scripture to build up our faith.
1. Ezra 9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
2. Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee
3. Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread
4. II Corinthians 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed
5. Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
6. Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
7. Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
8. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
9. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.


  We can look to the story of job when we have a heated trial that we have no answers for, but yet when Job went thru his trial what story did HE have to encourage him? One thing I have learned over the last 39 years is that no matter what it is we go thru, God knows, he cares, and he is there to walk with us. Not only did he saw that he walk with us,  but he would go before us and make a way.

   Many times we have to remind ourselves that we ARE a child of God and we ARE gonna come out on top. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The battlefield is in the mind. To be strong in battle is to be strong in our principles, integrity, morality, values and doctrine. We have to constantly program our minds for success. Satan would love for us to forget every battle we have come thru already.

   He wants us to forget what God has already done and said and promised. Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

     We have to be like the “little engine that could” I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…We have to program our minds every day for success because failure is never an option for a conqueror. We are a child of the King and are destined for victory. Praise God just hold on and he WILL pull you through.

    When you find yourself down and out, look up for your redemption draweth nigh. I am a firm believer to not live in the past but you must roll back the curtain of memory and think back on every tiome God has blessed you, and pulled you thru every trial. By whatever means necessary, you must program your mind for success. Sing songs of praise, give God thanksgiving. read scripture... what ever it is that you must do , DO IT!

   In the middle of your valley, Praise God. When all hope seems lost, Praise God. When the bills are piling up, Praise God. When the enemy comes against you, Praise God. Anyone can praise him when times are good, but who can truly say that when all hope seems lost that you PRAISED GOD through it A~L~L?

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Editors Comments:
     As I have been plagued with writers block here of late, I am all the more thankful for the issue God has blessed me with. I truly hope that it will bless you as well. There are many saints who are dealing with trials like they never have before. I want to encourage you with every breath in my body to NEVER give up hope, NEVER give in to despair, and most certainly NEVER give out and quit the race. 

    I want to thank each and everyone who has made this newsletter possible and to make it a success. Without your continued support, your encouragement, and your prayers, reaching out to so many people would not have become a reality.

    If you donate 10 cents, $10.00,  if you give an encouraging word, or simply  if you whisper a prayer, you are a part of this newsletter and together we will stand triumphant over our enemy.