MULTIPLY loaves and fishes
“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.”
How absurd this story is! How is this even possible? He fed the MULTITUDE with five loaves and two fishes. TWO freaking fishes.
But yet there is this odd, deep-down part of me that totally believes this is true.
So, four years ago, I found myself on a plane with three bags holding everything I owned in the world. I was moving to India, where systemic foster care is just beginning, to start a foster care organization. Talk about insurmountable challenges — like feeding seventy gazillion people!
My first step toward multiplying loaves and fishes here is registering my organization as a charitable trust. What an adventure! Five appointments — so far. But I’ve remained buoyant by counting each “failure” as a seed planted for future success.
Then, the other night, I couldn’t find the key piece of paper. It was close to midnight. A hundred degrees outside. I was exhausted…not feeling well…and in my pajamas.
I locked up the apartment and trooped down two flights of stairs, intending to get on my motorcycle and retrace my route home from work . Suddenly I got an angel message: “Go get your helmet.”
Back up those stairs? No way! Who needs a helmet to ride back roads at midnight? Except…for several years now I’ve orthodox-ly followed EVERY angel message, no matter what.
So I climbed the stairs, unlocked the door, grabbed my helmet, and out fell the piece of paper.
This was hugely meaningful to me. It proved to me that God was listening. Not only did I thank God, I couldn’t help but laugh. I literally said, “Are you freaking kidding me God? Thank you thank you thank you.”
Ian Anand Forber-Pratt, June 2012
Related Bible citations
Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:38-42 Luke 9:12-17 John 6:11-15
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Topics: Financial Issues, Supply
On Monday my niece Marli started her first “real” job out of college. She majored in hotel management. She moved from the small town she grew up in to a big city to work at a five star hotel. On Tuesday she updated her Facebook page to her new status and new city. Her comment was “Let’s DO this!!!” I am so proud of her – but not surprised. She has a bright outlook and exudes energy.
Marli reminds me of my dad! If you ever called him at his office and said “Ralph, how are you today?” he always answered “I’m perfect!” with a smile in his voice. You felt so buoyed up. And yes, his name really was Ralph! He was a gifted businessman, who knew how to circulate love. That’s what business really is - circulating love. He saw what people needed and loved giving it to them. And he had fun doing it. Part of his business was making skateboards for example. Growing up the kids in my family always had a skateboard. Some of them are collectables now. You can find them on eBay.
My dad passed away when I started out in life. I moved from the west coast to the east coast to begin my adventure. There were days when I did not have even a penny. A friend, whose children were grown gave me a twin bed that she had been storing in the basement. I was pretty afraid during this time, but I would lay in this gift of a bed, draw the comforter that I had from college up to my chin, and talk to my Father, God. He helped me see the asset I did have - a spiritual viewpoint cultivated in many years of Christian Science Sunday School.
For example I found out that I had an inheritance. I turned to my treasured Bible and opened to this verse: “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” Ps 16:5. I saw that my understanding of God was a valuable inheritance, one that I could draw on every moment. I didn’t have a trust fund, I had a TRUST fund!
In the next few years as I turned to God and listened for guidance I was led to make several investment decisions that have blessed me and others many many times over. They were spiritually motivated investments that required something of me - giving to others. Somehow God showed me that when your motive is to give, the return is you are given what you need to do that. The simplest way to express this is in the words of Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy: “Give us this day our daily bread”, and, “Love is reflected in love”. My mom is a generous giver and has been a wonderful example for me.
It truly is incredible how the good in my life has multiplied - a MILLION times over. If I was to talk to someone like my niece who was starting out today what would I say? From the moment you wake up, thank God for His overflowing love for you. Ask him how to be a blessing this day. He will show you and guide you to fruitfulness.
A few months ago I was taking a walk after a windstorm. It was trash day and all of my neighbors’ bins were out on the curb. The wind had blown trash from the bins all over the street for a couple of miles. God impelled me to see that my job that morning was to pick up those pieces of trash. I did it with a smile. I didn’t worry that my job was called “trash collector”. I actually don’t know what my job will be called today. I am writing this at dawn. But, like Marli I am willing to say to my business partner, God, “Let’s DO this!” And I have a bright outlook!
This is a good reminder to always trust that God meets every need, even when we don’t know how it will happen. You just have to take the first step and let the solution unfold.
A couple of years ago, we were in the Republic of Congo, organizing a youth summit there. The event had gone really well. Most of the participants had come from small towns far away. The organizing committee had arranged their transportation. Although they had raised the funds to pay these costs, the money hadn’t arrived yet. So they pooled their funds to get the kids to the summit, hoping that the money would arrive over the weekend. But it didn’t. And the participants needed to head back the next day. The committee let us know about this problem and asked if we could help. It was a pretty decent sum of money – around $800. They needed it in cash. We had it, but we needed it to pay for our next hotel (which only took cash). We were checking out of our hotel the next morning to head to one more location before flying out.
We thought about it for a couple of minutes and then decided to give the committee the money. We knew that it was right that these kids were able to get back home the next day. And it was right that we could cover our hotel costs. We weren’t sure how we were going to be able to do both. But we took care of their need, which was much more immediate, trusting God would have a solution for us.
The next day, we were checking out of our hotel. We had already paid (thankfully that hotel took a credit card.) But as we were leaving, the hotel manager came and found us. He explained that they had forgotten about a security deposit we had paid months in advance to hold the rooms and so they had overcharged us by almost the same amount we had given the committee! And not only that, but they were willing to give us the difference in cash instead of simply crediting the card. We had the money we needed to pay for our last hotel! So everyone was taken care of. God is awesome!
So grateful for this Radical Act Challenge today: “Multiply loaves and fishes.” Actually, what was multiplied was chicken schnitzel and French fries. A food factory brings lunch daily to the office where I work. Every afternoon the number of meals needed for the next day is determined, and that number is ordered from the food factory. Today because one of the people who would normally eat at the office had a luncheon appointment elsewhere, we offered the available extra meal to the postman who happened to be delivering mail during the lunch hour. He was so happy to have a good meal, and we were so happy to show him appreciation for his faithful service - “whatever blesses one blesses all” (see “Science and Health” by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 206).
This story of trust and Love shows how we must be radical in opening up to the “still, small voice” and letting in “floodtides of love” I am truly grateful to share and use such tools to get closer to truth. Thank you.
Isn’t it amazing, Jenny, how that works…it’s a law as reliable at gravity!!
love kate
Recently, I had to cash out a CD (like a savings account, but with a fixed interest rate–for those who do not live in the US) to help finance a project. This was money I had not intended to spend, and in fact, cashing it out caused me considerable angst. But I was thinking about this Radical Act, and my fellow Radical Actors, and I have to admit that I was comforted. Your stories, and Jesus’ story–as well as other experiences I’ve had–have all shown me that clinging to matter (or even looking to matter to determine how much or how little we have) would only close our eyes to the good God is giving us.
I think a common theme among all these stories is gratitude–or “appreciation,” as Kate put it in her last post. So that’s how I tried to approach this financial step: with gratitude that what I needed was there. And with gratitude (and trust) that whatever I need in the future will also be there.
But I wasn’t totally feeling it, you know? I mean, I was grateful. But I was still anxious and a little afraid. I have to admit that there were a number of “what ifs” floating around in my head, followed by a lot of “but hows” and “from wheres.” Kind of like all the questions the disciples were asking Jesus when they saw the initial scarcity of loaves and fish, right?
The cool thing was, though, that in the middle of this mental struggle, I ran across this passage from “Science and Health” that I don’t ever remember reading before, and it speaks so eloquently to the divine law behind this Radical Act–and our capacity for acting radically ourselves. Mary Baker Eddy wrote:
“The seasons will come and go with changes of time and tide, cold and heat, altitude and longitude. The agriculturist will find that these changes cannot affect his crops. … The mariner will have dominion over the atmosphere and the great deep, over the fish of the sea and the fowls of the air. The astronomer will no longer look up to the stars,–he will look out from them upon the universe; and the florist will find his flower before its seed.” (p. 125)
Finding the flower before its seed–isn’t that the essence of what we’re talking about here? Well, it seemed that way to me. I realized that at the heart of all of my what ifs and but hows was precisely that issue: thinking that there was a certain “order” to supply. X has to happen before Y can. We have to get a certain job, or a certain raise, or sell a piece of art, or do a certain amount of work before we can have what we need. But Jesus lived and acted in direct opposition to that, didn’t he? That’s how he was able to multiply–by seeing Spirit as the SOLE source of supply.
Anyway, long story somewhat shorter, that’s what I did: I let go of that “order” and embraced the loaves and the fish, the flower before the seed. And what happened? Seemingly out of nowhere, I received a check for the EXACT amount of the CD. I mean, to the penny. And from a completely unexpected avenue (though, I suppose, not an unexpected source :) ).
I have to say, God really does know what we need!
I’m turning CARTWHEELS over this story. If you can do it . . . the rest of us can too!
Kate, I want to get to know the funny, deeply spiritual and metaphysically articulate person! But I have to say, I already thought that was a good description of you!
I think this is one of my favorite “happy” places lately. As I wrote in the above comment, this law of “appreciation” and the resulting “appreciating” of spritual good, is so much fun to practice.
Rather than see something as being “had” by someone else, I am claiming that because I am able to be conscious of it, of its value and worth, it is already a part of my consciousness…and therefore my experience. And when I appreciate (am grateful for it), it appreciates (grows in value…with interest – my interest in acknowledging its present goodness) in my experience and in the world.
So, one example. I was at a gathering recently where someone was so darned funny and yet, deeply spiritual and metaphysically articulate. In the past, this might have intimidated me, causing me to retreat into the dark place of comparison and self-dissection. But this time, I thought, “Wow, look at how cool that combination of humor and spirituality is. I am aware of that…so it is part of me, part of my life.” I started to feel happy. And before I knew it, I felt like I was part of the humor, and it was part of me.
thats the latest…k.
I’ve loved thinking about this Bible story as a proof of a scientific law…
it goes something like this…when we take what we have, give thanks for it (appreciate it) then turn and share it, it grows in value (it appreciates).
Appreciation of something causes it to appreciate when shared to bless others.
I’ve been practicing this…radically…this summer. It’s a law.
with Love, k.
One thought that has been sustaining me recently is that we don’t need to add (or even multiply) anything because God already fills all space. And if God–substance, good–is everywhere, then how can there be a void in the form of a dwindling bank account, or empty cupboards, or lack of rain, or homes for children, or anything really? God being everywhere literally means that every bit of space, every square inch of the kingdom, is filled with His abundance, His precise supply. I love the idea that being in the presence of God means that tangible good is right at hand.
Yesterday I was dying, truly dying, for a mite of garlic. My basil was overgrown. A delicious pesto feast awaited. But not a spot, not a drop, not a smidge of garlic in the house.
And yet I knew, deep in my most profound Scientific understanding, that somehow, somewhere, there WAS garlic. I mean there just had to be. Because I rrrrreeeeaaallllyyyy needed it.
30 min to the nearest grocery store - that wasn’t happening. So after searching high and low in every possible, logical place, I gave up. And forgot about it.
This morning I finally found a moment to cut back months of overgrowth in my neglected herb garden. Hacking at a particularly exuberant gush of marjoram, I found at its base what looked like a patch of green hair.
Wait a second. Taste.
Yup. Garlic chives I’d planted years ago, which had withered on contact with this hot, dry, salty spot, had somehow managed to hurl some seeds right there. And under the shelter of the untended marjoram they’d managed to sprout . . . just enough for one smashing bowl of pesto.
Thanks God! Bon appétit!!!
Hey Lauren,
What an awesome inspiration you shared!
We DO restore our experience of ANYTHING resource through gratitude and acknowledgement of their true source.
I was in deep prayer earlier and this thought came to me so strongly:
ECONOMY (as we know it) is made up entirely of human beliefs! It’s all belief! Macroeconomics, microeconomics, ALL BELIEF! Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? BELIEF! Keynesian economics? BELIEF!
Smith’s invisible hand comes close to Spirit’s law when it states that man is led by an invisible hand (God) to promote an end for the betterment of society (and all mankind) even if it is no part of his intention.
The greatest economics lesson ever taught was by Jesus on the sermon on the mount:
“Wealthy are the poor in spirit [receptive], wealthy are the pure in heart.”
That is TRUE SCIENCE! When we are receptive to God we (not surprisingly) receive good things! When we are pure in heart we reflect the purity and simplicity of God’s production!
Man is not a producer, a creator, or a source. Man is a reflector, a creation, and a resource for now and eternity.
How do we know it’s law? Not only because Jesus proved it, but because WE can prove it, too.
A friend of mine asked for some prayerful support in finding work. We had never prayed together (but he had partied a lot together in college) and I was a little hesitant in asking. It, somehow, seemed uncool. But he really needed to find work and also needed money for rent (I was living with him at the time). I told him that I would pray for him, but wouldn’t pay him the money for next month’s rent because I was moving out.
I shared Science and Health with him and got to praying. One of the first thoughts in my prayer was: If you give that rent to him knowing that it is coming from God and NOT from you, then you’ll be blessing everyone involved. And if you know that he is a valued reflection of God’s spiritual power and production, then you’ll see results in his life AND your own.
So a week later I took a pretty risky night bike ride all the way to the apartment to give him the next months rent and a little extra. A month later he called me to tell me that not only did he find work, but he was getting so many job offers that he had to turn some down!
And, beautifully, just a few months later I found some major employment that allows me to pray with people everyday! He called me recently to let me know that even though he never thanked me, the money I gave had allowed him to focus on his studies for his spring semester and get his first 4.0! It also gave him extra time to read the first three chapters of Science and Health and he has kept getting better and better employment opportunities. His last one was working at NBC studios as an editor for a major, network television show! How awesome is that!!!???
God is good and it is God’s laws that determine our experience – never human beliefs.
AMEN WOOT!
Carlos hit the nail on the head when he said, “So I’ve started to learn how material supply is a mere symbol (or expression) of the thoughts at play, rather than a real set of resources which can affect our state of thought.” That’s the core idea for me. I’ve started thinking about this in relation to real fish, especially wild salmon. From a material scientific perspective, the salmon appear to be a rapidly declining resource. Most of the world’s salmon runs are considered endangered. From this perspective, things look bleak. But from a spiritual perspective, human activity can’t impact the idea of salmon. They are harmonious, heathy and plentiful.
Maybe we “restore” our experience of salmon supply by acknowledging they are a gift from God who is their true source? I’ve been thinking about how Jesus thanked God before he multiplied the loaves and fishes, so I’ve been thanking God for the gift of the salmon. It’s a little hard to say how effective my prayers are on a global scale but I know the salmon have been multiplied in my experience!
This is so awesome! Great proof that when you trust God and really listen, and when your motives are right, he always directs your path.
I need to do this one. But how? How can I multiply resources.
Hey Joe, thanks for writing.
I love the most direct questions because I feel like they convey a real sense of genuine thinking.
I’ll give you an example from my life how I’m multiplying resources. I grew up in the US and now live in India. I moved here in May of 2011 to help orphaned children grow up in a family/ community based setting. In essence, I came here to start a systemic Foster Care Organization. However, the problem is of epic proportions. Orphaned children are everywhere and in staggering numbers and I am just one person. So honestly, in order to feel like I’m making any progress toward my goal I needed to figure out how to multiply my own resources.
I won’t go into all of it, but before moving to India, I had years of confusion and feelings of a directionless life. During that time I sometimes turned to God and often was disappointed. After some time I realized that I was turning to God and then following what I had originally “willed” to be right, if that makes sense. I was literally turning to God because I thought I should and then after putting my “time” in continued on the way I was going. After many seeming failures I picked myself up and asked God how I could feel valuable in this world. God gave me the direction of helping children here in India.
But like I said before, I’m only one person. So I realized that I can no physically help every child in this world. It’s just not possible. So I decided to do research and use my education and experience to set up a foundation for this world that others can build on. And in that way I have the potential to help millions, not hundreds of people. The only way I was able to come up with this plan though, was humbly listening to God.
I would give you one simple thought to answer this question. Mary Baker Eddy, the discover and founder of Christian Science says in her book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”:
“An ill-attuned ear calls discord harmony, not appreciating concord. So physical sense, not discerning the true happiness of being, places it on a false basis. Science will correct the discord, and teach us life’s sweeter harmonies.
Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul.”
I’ll tell you, my ill-attuned ear for all those years became wildly in-tune when I knew that my happiness came from Soul. Then everything fell into place. :)
I hope this helps and I’m happy to keep talking about this!
Hi Joe…
I am soaking on what Ian has shared in answer to your question.
I think what I would contribute here, is a law that I trust with all my heart. I call it the “law of appreciation” and, for me, it is as reliable as gravity.
The word “appreciate” has two meanings. One is the “see the value of something, and to be grateful for it.” the other, is “to grow in value.”
When I am grateful or something….I am appreciating it. I am focusing on that instance of good. I am showing interest in its presence in my life.
When I put my money in an interest bearing bank account, it appreciates (grows in value). When I show interest in my home, taking care of it, improving its condition, it appreciates in value.
I believe that there is a reason why these two concepts share a common identifying word…and that is because they are related. When we appreciate something (are grateful for it…no matter how “faintly it seems to be appearing in our experience) it appreciates (grows in value) in direct proportion to the interest…care, attention, appreciation…we give it.
Whatever is represents God’s presence in your life, is an indication of the actuality of good present at any given time. And God, good, doesn’t show up “in measure” God’s goodness only has one portionality…All-in-all.
So, whenever we are aware of goodness (whether it is in front of us, or our ability to see it anywhere in the world, and be conscious of it) it is IN our experience. And to be grateful for that present awareness of good…to focus on it, and appreciate it…allows it to appreciate (grow in value in our conscious experience).
This is NOT an abstract concept for me. It is a law that has proven itself to be true over and over again in my life.
Whether it has to do with appreciating the presence of kindness (as it is being shown a child by a stranger on the street) and seeing it blossom everywhere I look as I give gratitude for the gift of having had the experience of witnessing it, or in being so grateful for my right to share what “little” I have with someone in need, and seeing that generosity come back in so many unexpected ways in my life and the lives and experiences of those around me…I know it is a law…and I trust it with all my being.
The multiplication of resources is, for me, all about giving gratitude for what I see of God’s presence…anywhere, in anyone’s life, through anyone’s expression of good…and knowing that if I am aware of it, it is already a part of my consciousness…and since God, Mind is the only source of consciousness, what I am conscious of is part of my experience and blossoms (with interest) into full expression. There is NO my good, vs. your good…there is just God’s good, and if we can see it…it’s ours!! The false ego would have us see it “out there” or in someone else’s experience and feel deprived, envious, less loved…this is a trick. Don’t fall for it. Don’t let that “yours” vs. “mine” thinking keep you from appreciating good and having it appreciate in your life.
I hope this makes sense…with Love, k.
There was a time, when I was a child, that my family needed to accept the philanthropy of the local “Optimists” club – a very loving organization that helps families in need.
I remember the day that they delivered a very large burlap bag of rice, and another of pinto beans, to our home. I don’t know how my parents felt, but I felt like we had just been given the greatest gift in the world because I LOVED rice. I love eating it one way for breakfast, another for lunch, and a third way for dinner. The fact that I didn’t have to figure out a way to convince my parents to let me have rice at each meal felt like an answer to prayer.
That chapter in our life didn’t last very long, as it was about that time that my parents began studying Christian Science (my mother had been raised in CS, but my dad hadn’t ever been exposed to its teachings prior to that time).
But I remember those days of financial trial (for my parents) as one of abundance (for me). Even though my parents may have felt that we were living on very simple (and meager) fare with a nothing but a dearth of choices, I felt like I had been given gastronomic gold.
I never felt “poor” or deprived. So much rice. And each month, when they delivered the next bag, I was happy and grateful.
Perhaps, when we are facing trying times, God enriches our affections for simple things….for exactly what we need (rather than what we might be led to believe we should want) and it is our affection and appreciation for these simple, modest gifts that appreciates (grows) into a broader generosity, a deeper compassion, and a wider heart-span for embracing the world.
just a thought…k.
I started something a while back in my heart after hearing a voice that said:
“You don’t need to buy food on Sundays. Trust in me and I will feed you.”
At first I took it really seriously, and found that, sure enough, every Sunday, no matter where I was, I was always provided for.
Today I woke up with a desire to pray and fast all day. This seemed normal to me, I wasn’t hungry, and I had plenty to pray about! So I did and went in to work on a music project with friends. Later in the day it came to me to go to the afternoon church service. So I did.
The first person I saw when I sat down was a friend and afterwards another friend came up to us and invited us to dinner. I wholeheartedly agreed since I was beginning to get hungry and there had a free, very delicious meal that involved fellowship, laughter, and love. Now that’s a real meal!
Thank you God for your sabbath day supply that we can all know comes EVERY day!
These stories are so inspiring! For me it’s been interesting to find out the changing nature of material supply because I’ve always taken it to be such an absolute, limited thing…
A couple of weeks ago we had a little get-together after church and we had asked each member to contribute a dish. We’re a relatively small congregation and that day we happened to have a lot of guests. Well, some of the members forgot to bring a contribution, and in talking about it after the service they were thinking of not attending so there would be enough food for the guests, or else make a trip somewhere to buy something to contribute.
Some of the guests caught a hold of this thought as well, and they were thinking they sholdn’t attend. However, we all begged and pleaded for everyone to stay. The thought for us had nothing to do with getting enough to eat (or even getting to eat at all if it came to that). It was about sharing, expressing love, understanding community and congregation… and the supply for those thoughts is abundant!
The short story is that we had food in abundance. The hardest part was figuring out who would take home what afterwards. And I’ve noticed this to be a trend at our church, whether we’re talking about food for an event or members needed to meet a quorum. There is always enough.
So I’ve started to learn how material supply is a mere symbol (or expression) of the thoughts at play, rather than a real set of resources which can affect our state of thought. I love how in the two stories of Jesus feeding the multitude the numbers 7 and 12 are used for how many baskets full were left. Both of these numbers mean perfection in biblical writing, so we’re not just talking about having more than we need, but having the perfect supply for our needs now and later. I feel like Jesus’ feeding of the multitude was not about some great show of his greatness, but about compassion and care for those who had given their time to consider God’s message. I’m relatively new to this way of thinking, but I can already see that from God’s perspective, supply and demand must come at a perfect balance.
Ok – so I’ve been really praying about multiplying those moments in the day when you can listen to God, I find that actionable ideas grow from those moments. I found 30 extra minutes today!!! God talked … I listened. It was GREAT!! Watch this space for the ACTION :)
So I was reminded today that I should give you an update on multiplying loaves and fish this Summer – I’ve been finding more moments in the day where I can listen to God.
I’ve started doing an exercise class three times a week, and I have to be there 30 mins before hand. So I’m dedicated these three moments of my week to LISTEN to God without an agenda.
It’s been a great Summer of finding these moments listening to God.
The college I really wanted to go to was much more expensive than the state school my dad hoped I would attend, because at the time the economy was struggling and my dad’s sales job wasn’t bringing in tons of money. My mom and I were praying about the right place for me to go to college, and it was clear the one I’d chosen was the best one for me. Dad reluctantly agreed and I went there, though I had to have several part time jobs and get scholarships a loan to cover the majority of my room and board (my dad covered the rest). My mom saw the loan balance mounting and was worried it would make it tough for me when I graduated, but every time she prayed about this the angel thought came, “Everything will be okay at the end.” So she trusted the angel thought. When I was a senior my mom received a totally unexpected inheritance that covered the loan. I’ve carried this trust that God will provide with me since then, and many times when I wanted to help someone or provide something useful or important for my kids, the object, opportunity, or money would be there right when I needed it, often when it had seemed impossible.
LOVE that story Clark! It is divine multiplication.
Multiplying the loaves and fishes is one of my 2 Radical Acts I’ve committed to this summer. I’d like to multiply funds for a project that would bless a lot of people.
But then today, while reading your story, I realized that I should really embrace and be grateful for the times in my life that I’ve already lived this to some extent. Here’s one of those stories.
Last year my apartment was burglarized while I was home. I was never afraid (I thought it was a house guest when I heard the door open). I wasn’t even unsettled when I found out what had happened. I was grateful right away for that — for the sense that divine protection had never been interrupted.
The person made off with my new computer bag, 2 laptops, and 2 pairs of expensive glasses.
One of the laptops was my daughter’s. We went out and purchased her a new one (we’d actually planned to do that anyway because hers was outdated) thinking that insurance would cover the cost. And it would have — except then my daughter pulled out a box under her bed and found her laptop. (Interestingly, I’d looked in that very box WITH A FRIEND and we’d never seen it.)
Ugh. At first I felt poor. Now I had to cover the cost of that computer. Then, I quickly adjusted how I thought about the situation and knew that I’d have everything I needed once the time came to pay the bill.
And then the interesting thing happened. The bill came, was paid, and my reserve funds never changed. It was like I’d never made a purchase for 2K. I hadn’t received any additional money in that time to cover it, either.
I realized that the gift of thinking insurance would cover it was replaced by the realization that God could cover it. Wow. Bigger gift, better result.
I remember praying with the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes with loaves and fishes.
I was a young nursing mom that needed to travel for work without my child. At the time it seemed extremely important to me that the baby continue to get “Mother’s milk”.
I had planned every detail of the trip. The baby was going to be taken care of my husband and grandparents. I figured that’s three praying people and three is better than one anyway. I never once felt like I was making the wrong decision to travel. But as I prepared for the trip – I knew I hadn’t pumped enough milk for the baby based on all the calculations I’d made on how much milk the baby would need while I was gone. I expressed my concern to my husband and the grandparents. We all prayed about the milk supply. ;)
I REALLY prayed to know that nurishment didn’t come from me as mother or anything else. Nurishment came from God. The child needed spiritual nurishment. I read the story of the feeding of the multitudes several times on the trip. Often when I called home to check in on everyone I asked for an update on the milk supply. The answer was the same. “We’ve still got milk.”
My dear husband had been extremely careful with every drop of milk. He’d kept extremely good notes. It warmed my heart to see he’d kept record of how much he’d given the baby each time ;) on a series of post it notes.
The baby had one extra serving of milk with her when we were happily united!
If that isn’t divine multiplication I don’t know what is!
Years ago I was on a walk with my friend Maggie. I was feeling sad and self conscious for whatever reason. On our walk we came to a baseball diamond. My friend and I began making drawings in the dirt with sticks. As we let in the creative ideas for the drawings, I could feel the bad feelings draining away. I was becoming happy and felt purpose in the simple act of making pictures in the dirt.
Over the next hour or so a bunches of kids were arriving at the park where this was all happening. Lots of them came over and asked what we were doing. Then they all wanted to help. Pretty soon we had a legion of kids (and even some parents) helping us make this gigantic piece of art right there in the baseball diamond. Everything felt good and happened so naturally – with no effort from me at all.
Maggie and I ended up leading this beautiful impromptu art event. It made so many people happy, including taking away the bad feelings I had been having. Just indulging the virtue of creativity and being willing to entertain a new idea – an angel. :)
I just ate dinner. I wasn’t filled up full and wanted dessert. I walked to a donut shop and order some donuts. I decided to sing my order on my guitar and say loving things to the cashier — he looked like he needed some love. After ordering, I thought to myself that I should have bought more to give to the friends I was with. After walking a little way, I opened my donut bag. Instead of the two donuts that I ordered, I discovered that the cashier gave me four. Love multiplies.
Multiply the loaves and fishes.
Such a big act. Although Jesus did it instantly to feed the multitude I’ve had a similar experience in building houses in Mexico.
In middle school my friend went on vacation and upon returning he told me about his wonderful experience building a house for a family in Mexico. As I listened to his story I quickly realized it was something that I wanted to do. I told my mom that weekend and we started connecting with church members to see if there was an interest.
That Christmas we built our first house in Mexico. After the first trip the entire church was inspired and many friends of families who went wanted to go the following year….but we hadn’t planned for the following year.
We have now built over 8 homes and continue to get strong feedback that people want to continue this mission. I love that the homes keep multiplying and that families given shelter, just as the people were given food by Jesus. People are receiving the care needed.
Hi everyone!
These stories warm my heart. Ann, no offense at all, but I especially love that you never found your wallet. It’s these experiences that show us that God knows what he/she is doing. Even when the outcome isn’t as we expect, when we have full and faithful trust, we can not go wrong. I think the spiritual confidence that comes from both of your experiences can often move us to tears in even seemingly small circumstances. I know sometimes as I motorcycle home from work or go for a morning run I’m overwhelmed when I think of finding that paper and now about your respective stories. God has full control and full trust in us. :)
Thanks for writing!
With Love from Udaipur, Rajasthan, India,
Ian
Ian – no offense taken at all….it was almost like I’d brought it upon myself because I was so attached to that wallet. In fact, near the beginning of our stay, our teacher had her whole purse stolen with EVERYthing – literally, including things for our group, not just her stuff – in it. She never felt the man grab it from her, but suddenly noticed it missing and looked back to see a man running away with it. Late, as we were all talking about how to think about this, I always find it best to put myself in their shoes and ask, would I really be feeling this spiritual about it all if someone had taken my wallet. I said right out loud – yes, I wouldn’t mind about the money or the credit cards because I can replace all of that, God can provide me with money and I can get new cards, but I would pine for the wallet itself because it was my favorite and I couldn’t get anything like that wallet where I lived in the states (in fact, still haven’t ever found something like it save where I got it from)…and then of course, I go ahead and not head God’s loving call for me to keep the wallet I love so much and end up having to deal with that. So it was really a lesson in getting to know the spiritual qualities I loved so much about that material wallet. I had to also, though, deal with using a wallet I DID have (so I didn’t have to buy one) that was feminine. (a clip wallet instead of a very small three-folded male wallet) I also had to learn to never have the possibility of putting it in a back pocket. But you know what, I love my female-like wallet now, too.
To me, this act has to do with the idea of breaking bread-being sustained by the ideas we’re learning, but then being humanly sustained by God when those ideas fill us full with understanding God’s satisfying abundance. I can remember a similar experience, though, to your story, though I’m aware that I’ve had infinite number of moments as yours, Ian: I was in Guatemala on an abroad from my school and there was much robbery going around. This particular story is when I didn’t listen to God…and when I did:
it was my last day there and before we went to the airport to come back to the states, I wanted to buy lunch at my favorite pastry which would be much cheaper than airport food. I had a wallet at the time that fit in my back pocket (like a mans wallet) and I almost always put it there when in transit. As I was gathering my things in my room before I left my house-stay, I heard a message from God saying don’t put your wallet in your pocket. You’re bringing your bag anyways, just put it in there. I said, “no, I don’t need to do that” so I put it in my pocket and started walking. By the time I made it to the bakery, I suddenly felt my pocket to be bare and sure enough, wallet was gone. So I searched the streets for hours-literally walking back and forth between my house and the bakery multiple times. I asked just about every person I’d seen each time I frantically was searching (in Spanish) about a wallet I’d lost. As I was about to make another round trip from the bakery, God said, Ann, do you really think you’re going to be able to find it and hear Me if you’re always moving? So I stopped – right there, I sat on the sidewalk in my very American clothes (ready for departure) sobbing. Lo and behold, a women walks by not too long after I’ve been crying and asks if Im ok and what’s happened-in english. She says she’s also in Guatemala for her own students’ abroad and says she understands things like that can happen, and if therefore I knew how much money had been in my wallet so she could give me the exact same so I could go get lunch and then leave for the airport. I never did find my wallet nor had anyone call me, but I believe for me, that was part of what I had to learn (I didn’t care about the money so much as I did the wallet, it was my favorite and was obsessively attached to it) but I was provided for, and feed, and made it home safely – AND my bank even pulled many strings to transfer all my bank accounts without ever talking to me (couldn’t pay for international phone charge) and just talking to my parents, without any signage. I was entirely guided and guarded.
Thanks for this inspiring story! I can totally understand how you felt when you found the paper! It’s so amazing how God is always their for us!
I had similar experiences while I was traveling overseas after Highschool. On this trip I had so many proofs of gods care that I just couldn’t believe it. I was always save and had everything I needed. For example when I ran out of money for food, I still had more then I could eat.
I remeber one time I was sitting at a deserted beach starting to get hungry when I suddently had the urge to look around. At first I couldn’t believe what I saw but then I was just grateful and had to laugh too. There was an orange lying in the sand!
I was just getting worried that I don’t have enough food when I found that orange. For me it really was a message from god telling me that I never have to worry about anything.
Another time I was walking along a road, when a car with two men inside stopped next to me. They asked me if I was hungry and when I said yes they invited me to their barbecue. I even got all the rests!
I just love that we can truly always trust in gods love and care and that she is always there.
Thanks so much for sharing your story!!!