For the past few days I have read Luke 15. It is a classic chapter about the lost. There is the aspect of searching for the lost and the rejoicing when the lost have been found.
One of the stories that Jesus tells is the story about the woman who loses a coin and how she searched until she found it. It reminded me of a time when I was a kid walking to school. I was walking on a dirt bank, as kids will do, and dropped a nickel that for some reason I had in my hands instead of my pocket.
As soon as I dropped it, I looked down but didn’t see it. I looked and looked but could not find it. (A nickel was a lot back then) After a little while, I remember stopping and asking, Lord, could you help me find my nickel’. The next time I looked down . . . there it was.
After thinking about this event that took place about 50 years ago, I thought of the parallel to my life today. I have looked and looked for the lost, but so far I have not been able to find them. I prayed simply, ‘Lord, help me to find the lost’.
Last night, my wife and I had dinner with some friends. The guy has been involved in a prison ministry for years. Today I went to the sheriff’s office and filled out the necessary paperwork to become a part of that ministry team. For that I have to say, ‘Thank You Lord for helping me find the lost’.
Hunger and Thirst 
Mike . . .God bless you as you begin this ministry, and He answers your prayer. I think of all the things I pray and am humbled by your prayer to find the lost. A few years back, our little blind cat that we had gotten from the shelter accidentally slipped outside without me knowing it. It was November. By the time I realized she was missing, and not just sleeping in the closet, it was the middle of the night. I was just sick. I posted pictures on the neighborhood telephone poles. Posted notes on each door with a description of our cat and our number. Couldn’t sleep or eat. Then 2 days later, a neighbor spotted her up on the corner from our house. And God told me that how I felt about that little cat being lost is only a glimpse of how He feels about the lost of this world. You have a special heart for Him and what He desires! Thank you! deb
The Lord has a knack for teaching by simple object lessons.
After 1 month, finally, last night was the first night with the jail ministry team. At least 12 guys, all whose lives have been stopped, and from God’s perspective, not so much for punishment but more for getting their attention – not for harm but for good.
For the most part, they believed that. I had never been in a room with so many at one time that felt that way – with so many who were in God’s grip.
I could not imagine a better fit for what my heart has longed for.
Mike
I am thanking Him for giving you your heart’s desire . . .to serve Him in reaching out to the lost. 🙂