newsmay05jun05

A Free Spending Spree? - SIGN ME UP!
By Rev. Verna Brown - May-June 05

“Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters;
(He is the living water) And you who have no
money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and
milk without money and without cost. Why spend
money on what is not bread, and your labor on
what does not satisfy? Listen, Listen to me, and
eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the
richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear
me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV

If someone invited you to go on a grocery
spending spree, telling you that you wouldn’t need
to bring any money, because it was totally free,
would you go? It would only require that you show
up, spend the time necessary to purchase the
goods, and that you come hungry and thirsty
because they wanted to feed you as well! WOW! I
don’t think to many people would turn down an
offer like that! Yet, spiritually God has extended to
each of us this very offer, and we so often turn
Him down. We spend hours, and money that we
don’t really have, on pursuing pleasures and
material items that will only pass away. They last
a short time, and only meet physical needs. But
God offers us free nourishment that feeds our
soul. The only thing it costs us is time with Him.
What better use of my time is there, than
spending it with my Beloved? He beckons us to
come thirsty, because He is the Living Water, and
only He can satisfy our soul. He beckons us to
come hungry, to eat, to devour the Word,
because His IS the Word, and our daily bread.
We will become spiritually emaciated and weak
without it. Don’t turn Him down. Take Him up on
His offer. Show up. Spend time with Him. Eat
from His table that your soul may live well. On this
kind of spending spree you’ll come home with joy,
peace, love, hope, and still have money in your
wallet. As I like to say, “I’m ALL OVER THAT!”

Prayer: Lord, I’m thirsty for Your presence, I’m
hungry for Your word. I’m an empty vessel in
need of nourishment. I want to be full of You. I
come to spend time at Your table, longing for my
daily bread, that my soul might live, and live well....

Loaves & Fish
By Rev. Dana Waller - May-June 05

“One of his disciples, Andrew spoke up, ‘Here is a
boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish,
but how far will they go among so many?’ Jesus then
took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed to those
who were seated (about five thousand). He did the
same with the fish. When they had all had enough to
eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that
are left over.’” John 6:8-12 NIV

    God uses ordinary people. People just like you
and me. Inconspicuous people. People without
credentials, fame or money. He uses people who
want only to give Him everything they have and let Him
use it.
    I love this story because it conveys three very
powerful messages. The first is through the boy who
gave his food to Jesus. It was all he had, but he gave
it without hesitation. He knew he could trust his little
lunch in the hands of the Master. It wasn’t the size of
his offering that mattered, but the size of his God.
    The second message here comes through the
disciples. Did you know that Jesus didn’t actually
multiply the food? He only blessed it. Then he gave it
to the disciples and told them to distribute it. It was in
the distribution of the food that more was created. You
see, FAITH requires ACTION. As the disciples acted
in faith and began to feed the multitude, God met their
faith with a miracle.
    The third message comes at the end of the story
when Jesus says, “Gather the pieces that are left
over…” You see God never shows up on the scene to
do a “bare minimum” miracle. He always goes far
beyond the expected. He’s not an “enough” God. He’
s a “more than enough” God.

Prayer: Jesus, I give you all that I have today—it
doesn’t seem like much to me, but I believe that You
will multiply it beyond my expectations. Thank you
Jesus for seeing me as a valuable tool in your hands.
Use me for your glory Lord. I am your willing,
surrendered vessel. Amen.