LIKE LOAVES AND FISHES

During our last meeting, we distributed some prayer cards created for our supporters. These would have been ready sooner, however, I made a mistake in the cutting and pasting of text. Initially, the print shop thought it was an error made from translating my document to theirs and then in the conversion to the print file they require for printing. However, when I arrived home, I double checked and saw it was "my bad!" I had to call them and let them know. The former would have been no cost to us. The latter a different story. I called to explain my error. Much to my surprise, the associate honored her promise to reprint at no charge! I was very grateful and quite humbled, especially since we disagreed on the final cost. I was being charged a different price than I was originally told (or understood) by the first sales clerk. But, after some explanation, I agreed that the final figures were fair. Only moments early I was squabbling over a few dollars, and now I could have justifiably been recharged the entire price. From my vantage point, I did not deserve such mercy and grace, but was afforded it anyway. How quickly we crossover the "thin line" between self righteousness and benefit of the doubt . . . for prayer cards!!!

Fast forward to the night of our meeting. I am preparing to count out twenty-five prayer cards to each of our eight team members. Everyone dives into the box and helps me count. But, the box never empties. Like the baskets of loaves and fishes, barely a dent was made in our bounty of prayers to request for our team and the people of Capljina, Bosnia. There must be a thousand of them! Our box is still full. I don't think this was a mistake, since these were printed not once, but twice. Again, undeserved, unmerited favor, an act of grace given by the printer to our team.

Two days later, I received an email from Pastor Bernard in Bosnia. In it, he updated us on his prayer requests. Hoping we had captured everything on the back of our cards, already printed, I flipped one over and there they all were, just as if he had asked for them before I had ever met with the printer. God is so good. He is teaching me still, and I have not yet left. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

So look for us to be distributing prayer cards when you see us. If not, ask us for one. Or expect one in the mail! When I mentioned the cards to Bernard he was thrilled so many of you would be praying for them, so many more than the total membership of their congregaton itself. As we sat in our meeting, discussing what trinkets we could bring as gifts for them, I realized, this IS the gift - the gift of prayer. It is what they love the most. Their lives are rich in praise and start and end with humility. Their is no greater offering we can give them than the prayers for which they have asked.

Pray for the leaders of the church. Pray for their endurance and encouragement. Pray for God to give them the words and the wisdom to continue to reach the unreached in their community.

Pray for those in the City of Capljina whom the church has reached, that they may continue to be receptive to the message and to the truths the Evangelical Church is teaching and have a strong desire to be in relationship with our Lord Jesus.

Pray for the growth & prosperity of the church. Pray for their financial resources as they become more of a presence in their city, so that they may experience ongoing success in many of the outreach programs, study groups and other ministries which have opened the minds and hearts of the people.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."John 17:20-23

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Kathy