07 February 08 - 15:46
How Many Loaves?
Jesus steals the show…AGAIN!
While we never know what to expect to see on the streets, we can always be sure of one thing: Jesus will show up; it’s just a matter of how He’ll make His presence known. Thursday was a showstopper….
“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, ‘I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’
“Then His disciples said to Him, ‘Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?’“Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’” (Matthew 15:32-34)
“How many sandwiches are left?” Donna asked as Cindy counted them.
“Four.”
“You Sure?” We replayed the people we had met that night, noting we had given two to a lady who was 8 months pregnant. Yep, four left.
How many sandwiches that were left was not a question on any of our minds, as we all felt led to pull over and talk to two men and three kids we saw making there way down the street. It didn’t occur to us that we had already given away six of the ten sandwiches that we had brought tonight…That is, it didn’t occur to us until Cindy and Donna began wondering who wasn’t going to get a sandwich with their lunch.
Would it have been a “big deal” if one of the men didn’t get one? To Jesus it would have been…because Jesus made another sandwich! Where there was four, He provided another so that no one would go without.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
To top off the evening, the family began to walk away after we had prayed for them and given them lunches and hygiene kits, when one of the little boys ran back to the van (he was bout 6-7 years old). I want to pray for YOU, he said to me. I held out my hands to the little boy who asked the Lord to bless me and keep me safe…Amen.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
Faith is the woman who steps into the darkness, knowing that Jesus alone is enough light for her path. Faith answers the tug of God on her sleeve to leave the safety of her warm home to go into the night, to do a simple service in the name of Jesus. Faith believes that God is more than able.
Hope is the heart that dares to crack open when God embraces them in prayer. Hope warms from the inside out, erasing fear from his face. Hope reaches out and dares to believe that God is for him and not against him.
Love is the arrow that pierces through the enemies lies. Love sees the promises of God that have lain dormant for years and waters it back to life. Love never, ever fails…never.
In Him,
Amy Smyth
P.S. for as little at $1.86 you can provide a lunch bag for one of these precious people. A lunch bag prepared with love and prayer. The lunch bag contains a sandwich, juice box, a banana or orange, and chips or cookies. If you would like to help us provide for our clients please make the check out to Abide Ministries with 70x7 on the memo line and mail it to:
Abide Ministries
16333 Terrace Dr.
Roseville, Mi. 48066-2028
one comment
Hello ladies! My name is Jessie and I’ve been following your blog on here for a while. I attend Kensington Church, and a few months ago your ministry was mentioned during a service. Well since then I haven’t been able to get you guys out of my mind or my prayers. Is there a way I could join you guys on Tuesday nights down in Detroit? I would love to be a part of what you are doing.
God Bless!
Jess
Jessie S () - 13 02 08 - 22:45
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