I FOUND IT!

 Have you ever spent time looking for something? You search all over, looking everywhere you think the object can be. That nagging feeling is in the back of your mind that you just HAVE TO FIND IT! After looking all over, finally... you've found it! THANK YOU LORD! It's hard to contain the excitement, especially if it's something you really need.
 In a household of many, you can only imagine the things that get lost. We all get together and search the house, sometimes even the car. Where could it be? For children, losing something can sometimes be a very emotional experience and that drives the search even more. Once the object is found, all is well and tears of sadness turn to smiles of joy. We all rejoice together!
 In Luke 15:3-6, Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep. Out of 100 sheep, one gets lost and the shepherd leaves the 99 to search for the lost one until he finds it. When the shepherd finds it, he carries it home with joy and rejoices with his friends. Verse 7(NLT) says, "In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!"
 Many today don't know their value and some don't think they have any at all. I'm so thankful that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, found me and my family, letting us know our true value.  We rejoice in HIS love daily with praise and thanksgiving. It's great to know that we are so valuable to HIM, he doesn't just leave us lost and wandering out in the world. He seeks us out, finds us and rejoices when we come home to HIM.