Author: Castle "Rikki" Andrews
Bummer Lambs
I read this piece on Facebook and thought it interesting, mixed emotions, but came to understand the value of knowing the shepherd’s voice. I did not write this story, the author is unknown, but felt the message a good one to share.
Enjoy!
Every once in a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken. These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does? He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keep it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock. But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first? That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately. It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it. It’s not that it is loved more, it just believes it because it has experienced love one on one. So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat. We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd. (Author Unknown)
Chiquita Banana…
Years ago when I first started my walk with God there was a huge thing about praying for Isreal, praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
I had set up a prayer room in my apartment and I wanted to find an Isreali flag to add to the room. I searched everywhere for one, but could not find one anywhere [before internet].
Weeks passed and frustration set in, so late one night I cried out to God, “Father God, all I want is a tinny tiny little Isreali Flag.
How hard could that be?
The very next morning I was headed into the office when my boss called. He was stuck at his house with his kids and did not have any milk for their breakfast. He asked me if I would mind picking up a gallon and a few bananas.
I dropped them off and headed again toward the office. But then thought that milk and banana sounded nice. So I stopped back at the same store and grabbed one banana and a small milk.
Got back on the road, as I drove and prayed I ate my banana and drank my milk. The tag on the banana was in my way so I pulled it off and stuck it on the tip of my left index. I continued to drive and pray.
Sitting at a red light I suddenly saw it…
A tinny tiny little Isreali flag attached there on my Chiquita banana sticker.
Of course, the guy in the car next to me thought I was a nut because all I could do was jump up and down in my seat as I pointed to what he might have only thought was my banana. LOL
God is so cool. He did the impossible for me that morning and used Chiquita to deliver.
On a side note, I’ve been told that for me to purchase that banana with an Isreali flag in a Houston supermarket was not possible.
The God of impossibilities strikes again.
This sticker has been taped in my Bible since that morning. One of my most favorite God stories.
