Abundance

I grew up as a preacher's kid. And I was adamant that I would not be in ministry as an adult. Honestly, formal church ministry terrified me! It is so demanding. People are so needy. Not everyone all the time, but the needs can easily become overwhelming... God's ministry through Shorty at our church has become much more formal over the last few years, from just a member, to small group leader, to deacon. And so has God's ministry through me. And honestly, church ministry is still terrifying! So many people watching me, patterning their lives after what they see in mine. I try to point them to Christ, but I fail! Some time ago, as I was reading through the gospels, I noticed that when Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000+, there was an entire BASKET of leftovers for each apostle! And I was in awe that Jesus fed and SATISFIED the crowd, and there was still an ABUNDANCE for his ministers!

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
John 6:1-13

*If you're interested in a fuller picture, you can read the corresponding accounts in Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9.