A couple of nights ago, I was at my aunt’s house (who was away on a trip) and was making dinner for my family as well as her two kids. As I was preparing the food, all of a sudden I heard the door open and in walked my aunt and uncle (whose house we were at) as well as my grandma and some of my other aunts and uncles. They were back early…unexpectedly early. Suddenly the meal I was preparing needed to feed not five but many, many others.
I stepped out of the kitchen to say hi to my family that had just walked in. My grandma, aunts, and uncles were thrilled to see my growing baby bump. As I was talking to my grandma, I turned to see that my mum had taken over the kitchen and that the rest of my family were sitting around the table. They had plates of rice and food in front of them and appeared to be enjoying a meal that looked like we knew they were coming home early.
Being pregnant and always hungry, I began to get frustrated with the situation.
Insert my internal thought: With all these extra people, I’m not going to get to eat. There’s not going to be enough. (Note that it wasn’t even a we-me and baby…just a me)
I ended up going upstairs to getaway for minute. I went to my cousin’s room, closed the door and found myself faced down before God expressing my frustration and in search of and in desperate need of peace…His peace.
Then I woke up. Yes my friend, it was just a dream. The situation I described above, was just a dream. It may have been just a dream but the struggle and the battle with my emotions in my dream were real.
As I opened my eyes, I heard the whisper of my heavenly Father say, “your focus on the inconvenience at hand took you away from the miracle that was taking place.”
Whoa. Wide awake now, my Heavenly Father reminded me of something that very much applies to our everyday (not just dreams). We can often get distracted and consumed by our circumstances (inconveniences, trials, challenges) that we miss out on the miracle(s) that is/are taking place. Maybe this has never happened to you, but it certainly has in my life. I’ve been caught in this position one too many times…an “Oops I did it again..” moment.
There’s a famous story (Matthew 14:13-21) about a gathering of 5,000 men (during this time, it was common not to count children and women) that came to hear Jesus teach. But there was a little issue…everyone was hungry but there weren’t any food trucks nearby. When they asked around, a little boy volunteered his lunch of five loaves and two fish. And with it, God did the miraculous. He took what was never going to be enough, gave thanks, and as he broke the bread and fish, it multiplied to feed the entire crowd, children and women included. Everyone ate till they were full and there were even leftovers…12 baskets to be exact.
Then there’s the story in Matthew 15:32-39 in which a crowd of four thousand gather to hear Jesus teach. After three days, Jesus recognizes the need to feed these people physically. After surveying the crowd, He is told that all they have are seven loaves and a few small fish. Once again, Jesus takes what is given to Him, gives thanks, and breaks them into pieces. He takes what will never be enough (naturally) and made it MORE than enough to feed all who were present (four thousand men plus women and children). Not only that but after everyone had eaten as much as they wanted, Jesus’ posse collected seven large baskets of leftover food.
God is the God of multiplication. What He did in the past, He can do it again. Yes it may not be a crowd of thousands but it can be in a regular family who end up having unexpected guests over for dinner.
Miracles can happen at any time. The challenge to you and I is to take our eyes off our circumstances long enough so that we can see the incredible taking place.
“Glance at your circumstances but keep your gaze on God.”-Levi Lusko
The morning after my dream, I was doing some reading and serendipitously stumbled upon two passages:
“Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.”-1 Peter 4:9 NLT
…and this:
“Let me (Jesus) give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”-John 13:34-35 MSG
*(Jesus)=emphasis is mine
The Miracles of Multiplication were less about the food and everything about…love.
Love is the Signature Trademark of Jesus.
And for those of us who follow Jesus, we are challenged and invited everyday to make Love our Signature Trademark.
Friend, I wonder: what is YOUR Signature Trademark?
- Ladies (and Gents) Who ________: What’s Your Legacy? - May 15, 2018
- A Letter For Every Mother - April 17, 2018
- Dear Beautiful Soul… - March 28, 2018
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