Bread and Fish continues...

Just had a wonderful Planning Session with the ladies at SAF Yacht Club and Luke 9 continues to be on my thoughts for PLAN 2009. It was clear in our review that perhaps our pipeline will be weak and we might not have enough bread and fish to offer BUT the Lord encouraged me greatly when our Mission Statement for our Activity session was shared. I realise during the sharing that we may just have FIVE Loaves of Bread (Pita Bread here)

Power of
People -
Potential
Passion
Performance

AND TWO FISH

Fulfill
Fruitful

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Luke 9:16-17
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

Father, please multiply what we have and provide for all the people. We will be grateful for any leftovers! Amen!

Five loaves of bread and Two Fish...

This passage challenges me... I was praying and was led to the passage again. Was thinking out loud where to find jobs for people who were retrenched and also what's for the coming year? There are already a trickle of people that were directed to us... through various contacts and sources. There was even a suggestion to compile the list to see what's the number...

What do we do? Direct them to where? Send them away? Yes! That was in my thought... Send them away.

But, Jesus said,"YOU FEED THEM!"

"Huh? We don't even have enough openings with all the headcounts freeze! You kidding us right?? We only have a couple of openings, that's all we have. Don't even know how to even share among us? You really expecting us to???"

I did not dare to thread further.... need to contemplate further.... can't imagine any further. But I know, at least for now, that Jesus fed 5000 men excluding women and children that day by looking towards heavens and bless the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish... whatever that the twelve have.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand (Luke 9)

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.

12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”

13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

“ “Impossible!” they protested. “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” 14 For there were about 5,000 men there.


Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down.


16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

Surreal. To God be the GLORY!

I had the most surreal experience recently. So surreal that I am still in a daze thinking about it. During my silent retreat in September after a 40 min prayer, I was reflecting and journaling down on the prayer and seeking the Lord on what's the next step for Olive Tree in Capitol Building (see also http://julieteo.blogspot.com/2008/10/capitol-building.html).

I asked boldly for God to please let us stay, I desire to stay because He led us here. It was an impossible situation then because the Government had already offered us compensation to shorten the lease. In the quietness, the Word from Jeremiah 32:27 "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" jump out at me!

My response immediatey with a hearty and amazed laugh: "You win liao lor! Nothing is ever too hard for you mah! Although I want to just believe and claim at that moment. I was honestly trying to believe and to adopt a wait and see attitude.

Who actually can foretell the economic crisis just 4 months back??? Everything just took a turn in just 2 months! God, the Creator of Heavens and Earth can! He knows and hold the future!

Today, I finally received the official letter from the government to confirm that my lease will STAY till Feb 2010 given the current circumstances and market conditions.

I am exhilarated with JOY and WONDER! I am humbled by His grace and providence for us here in Olive Tree. I am so grateful and amazed at what He can do. Indeed, NOTHING is too hard for HIM. Amen.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

I will praise you forever for what you have done;

in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 52:8-9