More Than Enough!

Luke 9:15-17 “And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

 

I have often thought of these verses while living as a Pastor’s wife.  My husband has always been very hospitable.  His mother taught him well.  This area of my life continues to be one of constant stretching.  I’m really not sure why I resent crawling out of my comfort zone.  Perhaps it was due to the time we had a missionary couple from Mexico stay with us for a week and the wife didn’t speak a word of English.  My husband never really understood why I was so uncomfortable.  When strangers appear at your door to spend an undetermined amount of nights at your home the first few minutes are the most awkward.  He always managed to be unavailable when strange house guests arrived.  I always hated small talk and it is especially hard when they don’t understand a word you are saying. After the Sunday morning service I could (and still can) always count on at least 2 guests for lunch.  It could be more if Paul saw someone who looked hungry or lonesome (college students are really good at looking hungry and lonesome).  I know he always felt like he was going to be in trouble but it usually didn’t stop him and if it did he often let me know that I had caused him to have inhibitions that he was never born to have.  One of my biggest fears or excuses was the idea of running out of roast beef or whatever I was serving. In 30 years that has never happened.  God always blessed our provision so that each dish made it around our large table at least one time.  We never had leftovers but we do have baskets of happy memories.

This Little Light of Mine

Luke 8:15-16 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

 

I love teaching the children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” to sweet little cherubs with chubby fingers.  They love to master it and are happy to swing those pointers and sing those words at an early age.  Should we “hide them under a bushel”? They shout “NO” with an air of determination and commitment.  Unfortunately we get older and less enthusiastic about our light being visible to a lost world.  This verse tells us that those who have heard the word with a noble and good heart patiently bear fruit.  Don’t be too hard on yourself when you feel as though you stumble over the same things over and over.  I remember when my Dad accepted Christ and confided in my mother that he didn’t know if he could walk the walk.  My encouragement to them both was that God doesn’t expect instant maturity.  We walk one day and when we get out of bed in the morning we pray for strength to walk the next.  We let our light shine which exposes all of us…our failures and victories….for all the world to see.  They notice not our instant success but that we walk in patience with good and noble hearts.