Once in a while, an ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. If the shepherd tries to return the lamb, the mother might even kick the baby away and will not change her mind to accept the baby back.

These little lambs spirits break and they will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with their little necks. These lambs are called "bummer lambs.”
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Unless the shepherd intervenes, that little lamb will die, rejected and alone.  This is where the shepherd will take the rejected little lamb to their home, hand feed it and keep it warm. They will wrap the baby lamb in blankets and hold it to their chest for it to feel the shepherd’s heartbeat. When the baby lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will then place it back with the flocks in the field.

That baby lamb who is now a sheep will never forgets the shepherd's love and care when their mother rejected them. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess which sheep runs first? That sheep that knows the shepherd's voice.

By now that forgotten sheep knows that it is loved and intimately trust the shepherd. Many of us are like the bummer lambs; rejected and broken but Jesus is our good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat.

As broken as we are, our Lord Jesus deeply love us and He is Shepherd who would leave the 99 sheep just to find our lost soul, to find you, to find me. Jesus, He left the 99 to rescue you and me.
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Luke 15: 4 ESV
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
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- Author unknown

We are taught the great lesson from the Bible, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves  happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually healthy, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we are ourselves watered.

How? Our efforts to be useful brings out our power for usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant and dormant skills which were brought to light by usage. Our strength for labour is hidden even from ourselves, until we venture forth to fight the Lord’s battles or to climb the mountain of difficulty.

We do not know what tender sympathies we possess until we try to dry the widow's tears and soothe the orphan's grief. We often find in attempting to teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves. So that watering others makes us humble. We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked for it.

Our own comfort is also increased by our working for others. We endeavour to cheer them, and the consolation gladdens our own heart. He that watered shall be watered also himself. Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over.
 
Proverbs 11:25 ESV
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Excerpt from Charles Spurgeon @Heartlight inc 1996 - 2024

Dear blessed friends and families, 

We pray for everyone to enter into this new year with a thanksgiving heart and we would like to start 2026 with a prayer.

Heavenly Father,

​We thank you for Your abundant grace, faithfulness and love for us through the past year. As we step into this new year, we place our trust in You Lord; to guide our steps with clarity and purpose. Please renew our strength and hope, give us courage and help us walk in love, stand firm in faith and be light around the people around us.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

- Hopeful Heart Team