5 Loaves and 2 Fish

We are humbled.  And honored.  And in complete awe. 

Just days ago I posted about our little family praying over our pickle jar and asking that God would take our "5 loaves and 2 fish" and multiply it for His glory.  At that time, we really weren't sure how we would pay for our first big payment due within the next week or so.  In fact, two weeks ago when we began this whole crazy process, in order to pay our application fee, my husband recycled scrap metal from work.  That's it.  No secret savings account.  Just some leftover scrap metal. 

Well, fast-forward one week.  And here I sit, humbled, because it appears, that that first big payment has been taken care of.  By both family who have rallied around us and by strangers whom we've never met.  Both, feeling the calling to be a part of something bigger then themselves. 

Thank you, thank you , thank you, from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has made a donation on our behalf.  To those who have sent our link out to others.  To those who have already bought (or sold!!) t-shirts.  We are truly humbled. 

I can't wait to share with you what God has been teaching me lately!  More on that later!!  In the meantime, check back this weekend.  When I get a chance, I plan on updating our fundraising thermometer.  I can't wait for you to see what God has done with our 5 loaves and 2 fish!!!  Thanks again!

Kirsten

Pickle Jars

Last night after dinner, our family gathered around the table and we read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  A crowd had assembled on the hilltop to hear Jesus' teachings, but the day had grown long, and the people, hungry.  I was struck by the fact that when  it came time for Jesus to feed the crowd, he did not miraculously just make food appear from the heavens (although he could have!).  Instead, he first required something on the part of his disciples.  As always, God, in His mysterious nature, CHOOSES to use earthly creatures to carry out His heavenly plans. 

"By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.  'This is a remote place,' they said, 'and it's already getting late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'

But [Jesus] answered, 'You give them something to eat.'

The disciples said to him, 'That would take eight months of a man's wages!  Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?'

'How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked, 'Go and see.'"

-Mark 6: 35-38

Before Jesus ever even performed any miracles that afternoon, He first required his followers to step out in faith.  They needed to take the first step!  We see this pattern over and over throughout scripture.  Peter, walking on water....the friends who lowered the paralyzed man down through a roof and at the feet of Jesus....Abraham leaving his homeland to follow God. 

As we talked with our children about the application of this story to our lives, my daughter spoke up and said,  "Mommy, this reminds me of our adoption.  Just like God took what little food the disciples were able to find and turned it into enough to feed 5,000 people, God can take our little money jar, and multiply it to overflowing."  Wow.

"From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise!" 

~Psalm 8:2

Enter, our pickle jar:

When we first began our journey towards adoption, we emptied out a huge pickle jar and stuck it on our counter.  We thought it would be a fun way to get the kids involved in collecting money for our adoption.  They have had a blast finding spare change throughout the house and adding it to our jar.  



Well, last night, we took that big ole' pickle jar, and stuck it on the middle of our table.  And as a family, we prayed that God would multiply our "5 small loaves of bread - and 2 fish".  We prayed Malachi 3:10 over our pickle jar:

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  'Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.'"

Won't you please join us in praying that God would do just that!  That He would multiply our pickle jar. That He would take our "loaves of bread" and multiply it to feed 5,000.  Or, in our case, just one orphan. :)

Kirsten