MY FEAR GREW BIGGER THAN MY FAITH / Mrs Susan Ballad

 

Mrs Susan Ballard

Pastor's Wife

Grace Baptist Church
Marion, IA

3 - children

5 - grandchildren (they call me Grammy)

 

 

MY FEAR GREW BIGGER THAN MY FAITH 

 

I recently had the privilege of traveling to Israel with my husband and the tour he has taken for the past fourteen years. I had gone in 2007, and I must confess, I really wasn’t looking forward to the trip this year. WHAT? Yes, you read that correctly Hon! I know that sounds ungrateful, as I know many of you would LOVE to have the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, the trip of a lifetime. That just wasn’t what was in my heart this time.  I was fearful of this trip, but not for the reason you might expect, such as the ongoing battle with all those who would erase God’s chosen people or the daily terrorism that these dear Jewish people endure. No, it was neither.  

I had been to Israel in 2007 and enjoyed it immensely, though it was a bit long (two weeks away from home) and weary with a demanding daily schedule that year. I was nine years younger then, at 46, and in better health! Now, I’m a 55 year old “couch potato” called “Grammy” by 5 of the most precious grandchildren EVER! I had been sick quite often in the past year as my Hashimotos - an auto immune disease, had flared again, causing my body to attack itself.  This in turn had my diabetes out of control, and inflammation triggered more arthritis pain. I felt I was falling apart and had been fighting sinus and ear infections for 3 months. How could I go to Israel and enjoy it without being sick and miserable, and maybe making others around me miserable as well? No, it didn’t sound like the right plan for me, according to the SLB-the Susan Lynn Ballard version of God’s will for me!  

We began praying for good health and for the Hashimotos to go dormant again. My prayer partners encouraged me as they were also praying for me and concerned for this trip and how it might affect me. As I finished my 4th round of antibiotics just a week before we were to leave, I still hadn’t felt peace about this trip. So, I prayed, planned, prepared, and prayed some more.  This apprehension I was feeling just wouldn’t let go of me.  

The day came when we left and drove to St. Louis, Missouri to stay overnight with friends and then leave for the airport early the next morning. Six of us were flying from St. Louis to meet the rest of our tour group in Newark, New Jersey. From there we would all fly to Tel Aviv, Israel.  We awoke the next morning to learn that our flight would be delayed due to bad weather overnight in Newark. So, we arrived at the airport in plenty of time for the hurry up and wait treatment! Later, we arrived in Newark too late to board the plane with everyone else, and our plane departed without us! My little faith began to waiver and wilt. I thought perhaps I should have stayed at home after all.  Doubt set in, fear took hold, and my faith seemed even smaller than a tiny mustard seed! 

We finally boarded our plane 5 hours later for the 10 to 12 hour flight to Israel. Oh boy! It was real now and there was no turning back, so I prayed for God to grow my faith and to please keep me healthy until I returned home.  I am here to tell you, I did stay well for most of the trip! Thank you Lord for answered prayer, both my own and those who partnered with me!  

We first went to the Dead Sea, then on to the Red Sea, where we went on a wonderful luncheon cruise. Next we went to the Sea of Galilee for another ship ride, lunch of St. Peter’s Fish-Tilapia, and many other sights. Our last few days were in old Jerusalem, where we went to the F=Garden of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb. We saw the place where David defeated Goliath, and we gazed on Bethlehem. The weather then turned cooler and it rained. I did begin to feel ill, with a cold and fever, but God was my strength to continue on. Some of the ladies gave me vitamins, supplements, and even a few antibiotics were shared. I appreciate God supplying my need through these sweet ladies!  

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing these sights, some of which were new to me since my last adventure. Others were familiar places where our Lord had walked and had performed miracles, such as feeding the 5,000, and places where many were saved and had their lives changed. My spirit was revived and renewed with each day. Just to think, perhaps my footsteps were stepping in exactly the path that my Saviour had once trod! WOW! 

 I also got to make some new friends in our tour group and renew old friendships, too! These were all (34) wonderful servants of the Lord and great co-laborers in the faith! I was amazed as God opened doors for us to sing and hand out gifts to many Jewish people everywhere we went. Some of them cried, others smiled and rejoiced to see we cared and that we truly do support them and love them. Something special was happening, within our tour group, within the hearts of the Jewish people we spoke with, and within my own heart as well.  

Yes, I did get sick as I had feared, but God did some amazing things and I saw some miracles taking place there! And… I had another trip of a lifetime, with so many blessings, words cannot adequately describe it.  

As we are celebrating Easter at the time of my writing, I can surely say, I have seen Golgotha where our Lord was crucified. But, He no longer remains nailed to the cross. I also went to the Garden Tomb, and can tell you, He was not there! For He is risen! Yes, we serve a risen Saviour! 

When you are fearful or ill, or just weary and busy serving God, remember to trust Him because wherever you go, He can take care of you! He’s the Great Physician who knows our needs and can supply them! 

When fears and doubts arise: 

First, remember to pray, and enlist some prayer warriors to pray in your behalf! Heb 4:16,  

Jms 5:16, Eph 6:18. 

Next plan according to God’s will for you.  Jer 29:11 Plan your work, work your plan, and don’t get sidetracked! Stay focused! 

Prepare yourself to accomplish His will. II Tim 2:15, Ez 38:7 

Fear not! Is 41:10.  

 

 

Dear Pastor's Wife / Mrs Vicky Mutchler

 

Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Pastor's Wife

Grandview Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

 

 

 

Dear Pastor’s wife,

Does this scenario sound familiar?

Husband: “Honey, I got you a job today.”

Wife: “Really? Okay, but I wasn’t looking for a job. I have plenty to do here running the household and raising the kids. That was our plan, right? Me stay home with the kids so you could fully dedicate yourself to the ministry.”

Husband: “Yeah, yeah. But I really need you take this job for me.”

Wife: “Well, okay, just tell me what to do and when it needs to be done by, and I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

Husband: “Well, right now there are no specific responsibilities. Basically, it’s just doing anything at church that no one else steps up to do or wants to do.”

Wife: “Oh my, that is a tall order. Okay, I’ll do it. I guess we could use the extra money anyway. Things are always tight around here on a pastor’s salary.

Husband: “Well, actually honey, there is no salary . . .”

I think there is a lot that has been added to “our job descriptions” (no added pay...of course there was no pay to add to!)

We have believed lies that have been handed down as fact….

FALSE: As the Pastors wife I must be what the people need. (or expect)

TRUTH: I am who I am. I am qualified because I have my name on a marriage license with their Pastor!

FALSE: I must live in a glass house with spectators.

TRUTH: Every family is under the scrutiny of others. Live in a glass house...dress in basement! Or close the curtains.

FALSE: I will never have normal hours with my husband a pastor!

TRUTH: Pastor’s are busy but so are: Policemen, EMT’s, Doctors….many are on call 24/7. Look at the flexibility offered as well!

Remember you are to learn from every situation. Be a cheerleader. Love your husband! Be yourself, but push yourself to be more like Jesus everyday!

The ministry is a great job with an opportunity to minister to great people. Remember ...you attract what you are! So— stop whining, start praising!  Stop complaining, start thanking! Stop taking, start giving! Stop talking, start doing!

Thank you for all you do for the cause of Christ!

Love you,

Mrs. VIcky

 

Mrs. Vicky


How Deep is Your Love? / Mrs Mary Frost

 

Mrs Mary Frost

Assistant Pastor's Wife

Grandview Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

 

 

"How Deep is Your Love?"


This past month, my Pastor along with other staff men, have preached a sermon series, "How deep is your love?".  They've used the verse from Mark, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,  and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength."  This series has really motivated me to ask myself, "How deep IS my love for God?" and even a step further, "Have I showed God how deep my love for Him really is?"
I was reminded of this thought again as I was home with my 3 year old son, Tyler.  T-man, as I lovingly refer to him, inherited his daddy's love for all sports.  There isn't a sport's ball that T-man doesn't love.  Currently, he's really "into" the sport of  basketball.  Not a day goes by that I don't hear him bouncing his basketball down the hall and shooting into the small hoop on his door. Without fail, Tyler will change into his basketball clothes (shorts and t-shirt) run to find me and ask me to watch his basketball game in which I am to sit on the side-line and cheer for him.  Of course, I eat up this time with him!  On one particular day, the usual occurred.  My son ran downstairs in his little red shorts and basketball t-shirt and told me that it was, in fact, time for his basketball game.  My first thought was, "I'm in the middle of something... I don't have time!" But none the less, I put down what I was working on and went to sit at my post to watch him play. 
 I have to tell you, I felt proud of myself... Proud that I made the right decision. I mean, what have I learned in all these parenting books? Kids spell LOVE as T-I-M-E! But as I sat there congratulating myself, I felt a pain in my heart as if God was saying, "I spell LOVE  the same way, Mary,  T-I-M-E"  
I was reminded of the familiar story in Luke 10 where we find  Martha busily serving Jesus and the other guests in her home while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus.  If we could get a glimpse into the heart of each of these ladies, I honestly believe that both ladies thought they  were showing Jesus their love for Him. Martha showed her love by serving , and Mary showed her love by listening. None of us could blame Martha for her frustration at Mary, but notice  Jesus' perspective of the situation.  Jesus said of Mary that she  "hath chosen that good part..."  In my life, I can identify seasons where I lean toward being  Martha, and others where I lean toward being Mary.  Yet I'm reminded by this story that my service for God cannot replace my time with God!  
So I must ask myself, "How much do I really sit at the feet of Jesus, or do I run past Him each day just to cross off my list that I've been" with" Him? Do I really listen to Him as much as I talk to Him about all my requests? There is a phrase I hear all the time in regards to personal time with God.  The phrase is, "It's not quantity but quality." Do I spend quality time with God?   Do I give time to God to allow Him to talk to me, work on me, and mold me to be more like Him? 
I like what Jesus said at the end of the verse, "...which shall not be taken away from her." The blessings that Mary received that day by choosing to sit at the feet of Jesus were something that changed her life.  Jesus was able to impact her life in great ways because she chose to love Jesus with her time at His feet.  What blessing did God have waiting for you today when you met with Him? He loves to love on you when you choose to love Him with your time at His feet!

It's All About Perspective / Mrs Robyn Bachman

 

Mrs Robyn Bachman

 

 

 "It's All About Perspective"

 

Recently, I posted on Facebook how much I dislike change.  I have to admit, to some small extent, I was  feeling sorry for myself.   You see during all my years growing up, we moved often due to my dad being in the military.  Then, upon graduating college and marrying, God has seen fit to move my husband and I several times to different ministries for certain "seasons", as I like to call them.  Each and every place I have lived I can see how God used it to help me grow and learn lessons that were vital in my life.  Plus, I have gained so many friends across the country that I will have for a lifetime. 

Today I celebrated my  47th birthday and, if I am honest,  I have to say that as I am growing older, I am still not very fond of change; but, recently,  I have begun to look at the changes in life with new PERSPECTIVE.  In fact, to be really honest, God has convicted me about this matter of my perspective.  You see the Bible is clear that God never changes and I ought to be able to rest in that and know that everything that happens in my life is intended for His good and His glory.  When I spend all my time focused on the changes, it is so easy to lose sight of what really matters...it is so easy to lose perspective... God's perspective.  After all, isn't that how we are to view this life?  I Cor. 13:12 reminds us that "we see through a glass darkly....but then shall I know..."  One day all the changes, whether sickness, loss, hurt, burdens, trials, or even the good, will be revealed for what God intended them to be in our lives. We will understand, but until then we must  look at ALL we go through in the perspective of God rather than our own.

Perspective is defined as:  the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc.; the faculty of seeing all the relevant data; a mental view or prospect.   What stands out to me are the words, "one's ideas" because my thoughts and ideas should be derived from following after God. Perhaps that is why I lose perspective when things come that I can't understand or don't like.

We are familiar with the story of Job. Satan came and tempted him, Job lost much, his friends turned on him, his wife told him to curse God and die and he lost his children...Job had to endure so much, by our standards.  Yet, if you look at Job 1:21, 22 you will find Job saying, "And said, Naked came I out of my  mother's womb and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, not charged God foolishly."  WOW!! Job didn't sin against God for what he was facing and, to top it all off, he didn't question God.  I don't know about you, but that is really hard.  However, the fact that God shares this in His Word tells me that this is not only the right response or perspective we should have in life, but that it is possible.

So, I sat and thought about how I could better accomplish having the right perspective, even when facing change.  Here is what God shared with me; as well as, the results that can come when we do these things... these are things we all know, but good reminders:

 

1. Spend much time in God's Word...daily reading and meditating.    

**This will FIX our hearts on God!   Ps. 63:1 and Joshua 1:8

2. Spend more time praying and listening to the voice of God. 

** This will FREE our souls from undo cares.       Ps. 5:3 and Ps. 55:2

3.  Spend many moments of the day focused on others.   

** This FOCUSES us on what really matters  most.      Gal. 6:22 and  Luke 10:33, 34

 

So, may I encourage you as I was encouraged...no matter what we are going through He is there and if we will look at the circumstances through His perspective it will help us when we don't see a way out because we will realize He is already in our tomorrow and He truly does know what we  are going through.  

Reminds me of the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" where we find  the words,   "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."   So, when things seem to be overwhelming, view it in His light and remember, our life truly is ALL about PERSPECTIVE...HIS.  

Fruit of the Spirit / Mrs Linda Vaprezsan

 

Mrs. Linda Vaprezsan

Pastor's Wife

Metro Baptist Church

Belleville, MI

 

 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The Fruit of God’s Character

I long to prosper in your fruit

More than the wealth of the land.

What the world offers, matters not,

It’s all like crumbling sand

It has no substance for sustaining life

Of eternal value, I mean

Its only use is for the temporal

In fulfilling worldly dreams

But one day soon it will all be gone 

As if it had never been

And when we’re standing with it all,

What in us will be seen?

For worldly wealth has no real value.

Nor character to strive for.

For we are nothing when all is revealed

If we lack the fruit of the Lord

I’d rather have the qualities of God.

The fruit of His Spirit inside,

For it’s His character that will remain

When we enter eternal life.

By M.S. Lowndes

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.”

As I was preparing this devotional, I thought about all of these attributes.  Without quickly counting, how many fruit are there of the Spirit?  Take a guess and then count to see if you got it right.  If you counted nine you are not exactly right.  

Did you realize that there is only ONE fruit of the Spirit?  I know you are thinking just one?  In Greek the word for “fruit” is “karpos” and it is in the singular.  So therefore if you read this verse thinking of it as singular, it would read that all of these attributes listed are one group that go together as a unit.  

We can’t pick or choose, rather, the fruit of the Spirit is one nine fold “fruit” that characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit.  Collectively, these are the fruits that all Christians should be producing in their new lives with Jesus Christ.

After I had prepared this part of the devotional for our Mother/Daughter/Friend evening, a lady who seen our advertisement for the event, asked if we could put an “S” on the poster?  I guess she felt it was incorrect.  Our secretary asked her if she had read the scripture and that the scripture is singular.  I know myself that I have caught myself saying Fruits of the Spirit.

Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is just that, of the Spirit.  It is not your fruit, but the fruit of the Spirit of God.  This is because God is love and He lives in us.  This means that it is the work of God the Holy Spirit in you to bear this fruit.  Of course, you cooperate with God in bearing this fruit and you absolutely need to seek to develop it, but in Philippians 2:13 it says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

We know that it is God’s good pleasure that you love and bear the fruit of love.

If it is all one fruit, then all the nine things listed in the verses are already ours in the Spirit of God.  In other words, all nine things are really one thing that you have available to you because the Holy Spirit indwells in you.  

If you love, then will you not have joy?  If you love, will you not also have peace?  If you love, will you not also be gentle or longsuffering, be meek and have self-control (temperance)?  It could easily be said that love is the tree that bears the fruit of joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  If you have the love of God in your heart because you have trusted Christ as your Savior then all the other attributes are yours too.  You just need to develop them.

Let’s take a look at each fruit along with their opposites.

1. Love (What a warm feeling.)  The opposite of that is hate.  (That should make us feel dirty and ugly on the inside.)

2. Joy (isn’t that a great feeling?) The opposite of that is fear.  (That sure isn’t a great feeling.)

3. Peace (I love the sound of that.)  The opposite of that is confusion.  (None of us like confusion in our lives.)

4. Longsuffering (This one is hard because it means patience.)  The opposite of that is anger.  (Anger separates us from the Lord, how sad is that?)

5. Goodness (This should make us smile.)  The opposite of that is being insensitive to others. (And that should make us sad.)

6. Gentleness (It is wonderful when we see someone being gentle.)  The opposite of that is demanding.  (When someone is demanding it makes us want to stay far away from that person.)

7. Faith (This helps others trust us.)  The opposite of that is hypocrisy.  (We say one thing and do another.  How could anyone have faith in us?)

8. Meekness (Quiet) The opposite of that is loud and annoying. (People don’t like to be around that type of person.)

9. Temperance (having self-control, making sure we don’t let ourselves just do whatever we want to.) The opposite of that is egotism.  (This is when we do whatever we want no matter who we hurt along the way.)

When you examine yourself you might notice that some of the fruit (speaking of individual aspects of love here) are not all that well developed.  You might be kind and good, but need to work on your patience.  You might have great joy and peace but need work on self-control or temperance and gentleness.  None of us are perfect, and we all have areas of improvement.  But, all Christians have the Spirit of God therefore; they have the fruit of the Spirit of God in them.  It is there, if only in developing form, it is there.

The most important thing is that the fruit of the Spirit of God is in you because, if you are born again, you have been bought with a price.  You have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, God in flesh, who died on the cross for your sins.  It is only because of what Jesus did that you can ever hope to be good, or gentle, or kind, or patient, or loving, or anything.  You cannot truly live these things without the Spirit of God in you.

It is by faith that you walk before God.  It is by faith that you seek the Lord and seek to manifest the love of His Spirit in you.  It is important because the unbelievers need to see those graces working in you.  They are an evidence of your conversion and a testimony of God’s indwelling.

Ask yourself, if you are loving, or trying to show love not only to God but also to people.  Then, go back and count the fruit again.  When you get to each one, stop and ask the Lord to develop that in your heart.  By working on each “fruit” listed, can we develop the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT in our lives.

The Struggle is Real / Mrs Mandy Winkle

Mandy Winkle

Pastor's Wife

Bible Baptist Church of Rendon

Fort Worth, TX

 

The Struggle is Real

My mother-in-law had a quadruple bypass in December. Sitting in the waiting room during her surgery we kept hearing this phrase from my 23 year old niece: “The struggle is real.”  My husband asked, “What is that? ‘The struggle is real.’” It annoyed him, so of course we teased him the rest of the day with it. ;-) 

Since then, the phrase has caught on around our house.  It has come to represent what my husband and I call “non-problems.” For example, right now as I am typing on my laptop, I keep hitting the sensitive mouse pad with my wrists and it’s sending my cursor all over the place. I’m trying not to lay my hands all the way down to prevent it. It’s really a “non-problem” but hey, the struggle is real.

Some other more real struggles I face:

- Sharing one bathroom with my family of 7.  Our house needs some expensive plumbing repairs we are currently saving up for.  Maybe that doesn’t seem to be a big problem for you, but hey did I mention I have two sons and a husband in that mix?! That struggle IS real, ladies!

- Keeping the laundry caught up! (Can I get a witness?!)

- Keeping balance in my life by keeping Christ at the center.

No matter what your struggle is, there is God.  My struggle may be real, but so is my God.

Struggles can come from many different sources. Let’s take a look at a few people in the Bible and how they handled their struggles. 

These first four ladies all had the same struggle. Sara, Rachel, Hannah and Elisabeth – can you guess their struggle? 1,000 points if you guessed: a barren womb. God had closed each of their wombs.  Sara and Rachel both took matters into their own hands by giving their husbands a handmaiden to wife (Genesis ch.16 & 30) Each handmaiden conceived a son on behalf of them, but not without serious consequence. Both of these women's solutions have caused heartache and grief for literally CENTURIES. Isaac vs. Ishmael – Israel vs. Palestine – Muslims vs. the world. It’s never wise to take matters into your own hands.

I Samuel 1 tells us about Hannah’s struggle with a barren womb and the provoking from an adversary she endured over it. Hannah’s response to her struggle? She took it to the Lord in prayer. She was so fervent in her prayer at the temple, the priest, Eli, thought she was intoxicated. Eli gave her the assurance that God would give her petition. Verse 19 has some of the sweetest words “…and the LORD remembered her.”  But of course we can see that

Hannah had remembered the LORD first! She took her struggle to the ONE who loved her like no other. 

The Bible does not recount Elisabeth’s struggle with childlessness. We can only gather her heartbreak of being barren. Luke 1:7 tells us that she and her husband were “well stricken in years.” Can you imagine Elisabeth’s shock and joy of finding out she was with child in her old age? Elisabeth solution to her struggle was to wait on God’s timing. She may have just given up on the dream altogether, we don’t know. But we do know that God didn’t give up. He had a special plan for her little boy. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” (John 1:6) God’s timing is always perfect timing. 

Some other struggles noted are:

SAMSON:  Struggle: his flesh   Solution: to indulge

PETER: Struggle: his mouth   Solution: repeated repentance

JACOB: Struggle: deceitfulness to his brother  Solution: sought forgiveness

MOSES: Struggle: his own perceived limitations  Solution: stepped out on faith

DEMAS: Struggle: his love of the world  Solution: left the Lord’s service

Each situation was handled differently and each with different results. There are some definite examples to follow and some to not! Don’t miss this ladies: No matter what your struggle is, there is God.  Your struggle may be real, but so is your God.  The one thing we can do for any struggle we face is to GIVE IT TO GOD. 

I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.

If you’ve ever been fishing you know the thrill of hurling your lure and watching it sail across the water.  That’s how we are to give our cares to the Lord. Cast it on over – granny launch it if you have to!  Give him ALL YOUR CARE too, don’t hold back.  Hey the sparrows don’t have to struggle for food each day, do they? Our Heavenly Father cares enough to feed them – how much more does he love you?

I taught this lesson to my own ladies earlier this month, and I passed out those little Chinese finger traps to each of them. You know, the little woven tubes that you place your fingers in and try to escape from?  The more you struggle to remove yourself, the more of a struggle it becomes. You have to stop pulling, relax and your fingers come right out. Did you catch that? Stop pulling. Relax. Give it to God. You’ll come out of it. 

The struggle is real, but so is your God.

Mrs Jennie Walter

 

Mrs Jennie Walter

Pastor's Wife

Victory Baptist Church

Winthrop, Maine

 

 

It is a joy and an honor to be the wife of a man of God. I love everything about the ministry. I love how involved we get to be with the many details in serving God's people. I love that we get to be at church early and stay after church late. I enjoy the many facets of ministry I get to be a part of each week. I love watching my children learn to love people.
But sometimes I get tired!
In Luke chapter 9 we find Jesus giving His disciples some instructions. He commissions them to go out and preach and heal in His name. He gives them instructions about their supplies and then sends them on their way. I do not know how long they are gone, but from the directions Jesus gave them I believe it was a few weeks at least.
Later in the chapter they return from their trip. Now keep in mind that this was not a vacation, but a work trip. They had traveled. They had preached. They had healed. They had cast out devils. They had filled the needs of people everywhere they went.
They had traveled to multiple cities. They had stayed each night in someone else's home. I imagine that by the time they returned to Jesus they were tired from their work and from their journey. It was a good tired. It had been a fulfilling and rewarding time, but exhausting nonetheless.
Then we read in verses 10-11, "And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him:"
Jesus was going to spend some time alone with His disciples, but the people followed. They had needs and Jesus chose to meet those needs. There were so many needs that soon the day was gone. The disciples were tired and asked to send everyone home, but Jesus asked them to care for the people and the famous feeding of the five thousand takes place.
It is interesting to me that Jesus asked His disciples to pull off this dinner. Can you imagine coming back from a lengthy business trip and on the day of your return you are asked to find food for five thousand men, plus women and children? Then you are asked to arrange their seating chart. Not only that, but you are asked to serve them all. And by the way, can you gather the leftovers and do the clean up?
So many times I feel like I have given my all. I am tired and feel I have done "enough." So often on a Sunday evening after church I am exhausted from the many areas of ministry that have literally taken up every moment of my day. I have been guilty of trying to make a quick exit after the last music practice on Sunday night. I am tired. I want supper and my favorite chair at home, but sometimes Jesus has more for me to do.
The disciples asked to send the people away. It wasn't because the disciples were heartless. They were tired and ready to rest, yet Jesus said, "Give ye them to eat." I need to slow down more and be sure that Jesus doesn't have more for me to do. Instead of rushing to the next thing on my list.....instead of hurrying to get home.....I need to look around and ask Jesus what He would have me do. Is there a lady who needs a listening ear? A teen with a burden who needs an encouraging word and some prayer? Some weary young mother who needs a hug and a pat on the back? "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:" (Luke 12:48) God has blessed each of us abundantly and He wants us to turn around and help others. God wants to use us and often it is in ways that we cannot imagine!
The disciples rose to the occasion. They did all that Jesus asked and they were part of one of the most amazing miracles.