7 Loaves

Life is a lesson…a continual lesson. A journey, for sure. The following was a “heads-up” to always be alert, because even the most seemingly mundane happenings can be part of a bigger picture…

Our group was large. Bruce, myself, and a few others scouted out the empty picnic benches at the local BBQ joint. I had nothing in hand to save our seats, but we figured there would be plenty of room to sit with the group when we returned with our food.

The busy order-line slowly meandered to the front, and we made our way to the counter.

You know when you meet someone and there’s some kind of connection? You’re not quite sure what it is, but there’s something. Our server looked us right in the eyes with interest, like he knew us. Though he didn’t. Yet a curious connection existed.

He took our order and then asked, “Would you like any bread?”
We thought for a moment.
“I’ll take a couple of slices,” I said.
“How about 7 loaves?” he smiled, waving a whole loaf of Wonder.
7 loaves?
OK, obviously, this guy was a jokester.
“6 1/2,” Bruce quipped back.
We all laughed, and then our server grabbed a stack of about 6 or 7 slices and held it up like he was offering us a prize at the fair. “How about this much?”
“Nah, I don’t want any bread,” Bruce grinned.
“Oh no, no. I just want a couple slices,” I chuckled.
He gave us an odd look.
 
Why would it be weird to him that we didn’t want a bunch of bread?

The strangeness continued.

We ordered drinks from the fountain machine, and he handed us the cups. He then told us, rather intently, about the water cups over by the fountain machine.
 
But we didn’t ask for any water. Oh well. Whatever.

We headed toward the outdoor tables with our meal. But every table we’d scouted out earlier was filled to the hilt with our group. There was no place to sit with them. How did all these people get their food and get out here before we did? Probably because we were goofin’ around with the bread-and-water-guy.

We found a table way over in “Siberia” away from everyone, feeling disconnected and disappointed.

We sat down, prayed over our food, and prepared to eat. I glanced up and saw someone else from our group, Larry (for honor, his name has been changed), who just arrived. I waved at him. He wandered over and stood by our table.

“Why aren’t you sitting with everybody?” he asked.
“No room, so we sat over here,” Bruce replied.
My mouth was full of brisket sandwich so I just nodded.
“Maybe we can see if this place has any chairs to pull up to one of the tables?” Larry suggested.
“No, it’s OK,” Bruce said. “We’ll stay here.”
Larry shrugged. We could tell that he really wanted to help us join the rest of the group.

But we soon realized that God had other ideas.

We invited Larry to join us. He hesitated, clearly not wanting to intrude in our space (Larry is kind of a timid guy). But he finally took a seat.

We chatted for a bit, and I noticed he never made a move to go get something to eat. And I started getting the sense that he couldn’t afford it. (Bruce told me later that he noticed the same thing and was going to give him the $20 in his wallet, but the Holy Spirit stopped him. Probably because of honor…God is not into embarrassing people).

I surveyed the brisket left over from my sandwich-making. “You’re more than welcome to these two pieces of brisket, Larry,” I said. “I can’t possibly eat all this.” Even as I said it, the “all this” sounded like a whole lot more than what was there. I again eyed the two measly pieces of meat on the wax sheet, almost embarrassed to offer him so little. I’d already chowed down on my sandwich and figured it would be kind of gross to offer him any of that.

He gratefully accepted the two pieces of brisket. So, I offered him the rest of my onions and pickles, and part of my buttered New Potatoes. I became aware that he was very sensitive of taking all my food, so I held back a couple pieces of potato.

Then Larry started to cough. He’d say a few words and then cough again. The coughing became more intense.
“I think I need some water,” he coughed.
Water?
Well, guess what? We knew right where that was!
“I’ll get you some,” I jumped up and headed for the fountain drink machine.
I handed Larry the water and a fork for his brisket.

God had Larry covered.

As we all talked it became clear that by divine intervention, we sat in “Siberia.” We weren’t supposed to sit anywhere but here.

My eyes drifted to Larry’s food piled on the wax sheet.

Whoa…what? I did a double-take.

I tried not to stare at the mound of meat. The mound. He had shredded the brisket with his fork, but there was no way those two puny pieces of meat could have made that pile. He had plenty to eat now!

We finished up lunch, prayed together about some struggles he was dealing with, and headed for “the streets” with the group to pray for people (that’s a story in itself and coming soon!)

On the drive home, Bruce and I discussed the events of the day, including the ‘meat mound.’
“I thought my eyes were playing tricks too when I saw that heap of meat!” he laughed. “And, as you made your brisket sandwich, I wished I’d have taken the bread that guy offered so I could make a sandwich too.”

Well, had we accepted the extra bread, there would have been plenty for everyone…with leftovers.

The next day when Bruce was reading his Bible, he was led to Mark 8:5…about the 7 loaves and two fish. Jesus took what was offered and multiplied it to provide what was needed. It also occurred to me later that I gave Larry two pieces of meat. I also pondered this: We had a “connection” with the counter-guy. Did the Lord prompt him to offer us that bread? Was that the reason he gave us a “funny” look when we refused it?

I’m sure whoever reads this will glean their own lesson. But for us? Our lesson was to graciously accept what someone wants to give. It may not necessarily be for our own need, but it could very well be for someone else God will put in our path who needs that “gift.”

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

www.ponyexpressministry.com

Book: Walk Like a Warrior: Inspirational True Stories of God's Encouragement on the Trail Less-Traveled—https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Like-Warrior-Inspirational-Encouragement/dp/1512774812

 

You'll Have What You Need When You Need It

So, crazy times, huh? Us younger folk never lived through the Great Depression. And the only shortage I remember was the gas shortage back in the ‘70s. But nothing like this.
Honestly, our little town was pretty sheltered, at first, in regard to the shortages experienced in the bigger towns and cities.
 
But as the big city people panicked and raided their own shelves, hoarding most everything they could, the fear spread. Especially when photos of empty shelves appeared in the social media outlets.
 
The shortages finally filtered down to us. Of course, it appeared that most of the reason our shelves were empty was because those from the bigger cities started raiding our shelves. But that’s another story.
 
But whatever the reason, it was hard not to join in the stampede for Charmin, Emergen-C, and chicken. I could feel my heart beat a bit faster when items I could buy easily on any given day were sold out...continually.
 
Deep breaths. Don’t follow the herd. Don’t panic, stay calm...pray. “Thank You, Lord, that we will have what we need when we need it,” became my prayer-motto, as I reminded myself of the countless times God had taken care of us in the worst of situations. And He’s never let us down...ever.
 
I voiced my thoughts to Bruce, and he agreed: “Yep, He’ll give us what we need when we need it.”
 
And this thought crossed my mind that really put me in check: “For God did not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind—2 Timothy 1:7). Huh…Fear=Don’t panic; love=don’t hoard (forcing others into need); sound mind=DON’T PANIC!
 
It’s been several weeks now since the initial intrusion of ole Covey-19. And everything we’ve needed, we’ve been able to find—even the elusive Angel Soft toilet paper that’s seemed to all but disappear from existence at our local Walmart (The last time I glanced down that aisle, even the dreaded one-ply was hoarded). But early on, my mother-in-law found some of the good stuff and bought it for us. So no worries there!
 
The last item that’s always been important to us has remained MIA for weeks—Apple Cider Vinegar for the health of our horses. Every store…nothing. Even online. I went as far as asking Walmart if they even manufactured the kind we use anymore. (I mean, who hoards the 5 percent diluted Apple Cider Vinegar anyway?) My mother-in-law was even scouting for it. And since my days were filled with homeschooling my 3rd grade cousins, I couldn’t hover like a hawk over the pickle aisle until the truck came. So I was left to scrounge when I could.
 
I blew out a healthy sigh as I looked at our dwindled supply of the ACV. One more dose and the bottle was empty. “Well, Lord, I know we’ll have what we need when we need it. And if for some reason this hasn’t been the “supplement” we thought it was, then there’s no reason to find it and pack it around when we finally hit the road.”
 
Off to town we rolled. While I perused the allergy aisle at Walmart, Bruce disappeared down another aisle.
 
I glanced up as he navigated toward me, through empty product displays, with a big grin on his face. And a gallon jug of apple cider vinegar in his hand.
 
Apparently the jug was sitting right on the edge of the bottom shelf where he could easily see it. Believe me, on those bottom shelves, it’s easy to miss items that are shoved back in their dark cave.
 
Now, maybe the need for a jug of apple cider vinegar might seem rather small in comparison to a Charmin shortage or other, more concerning fears, but nevertheless, it was a very comforting reminder to us in these crazy times: When we look to Him, God is able…and willing…to supply every need we have. No matter what it is.
 
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”—Matthew 6:33.

www.ponyexpressministry.com

Book: Walk Like a Warrior: Inspirational True Stories of God's Encouragement on the Trail Less-Traveled—https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Like-Warrior-Inspirational-Encouragement/dp/1512774812

Behind the Scenes

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”— Isaiah 55: 9. 

Twelve hours and counting, we drove on into the night. You’d think it would be somewhat easy finding a rodeo grounds in the West to hole up for the night with a horse ... not.

We were headed for the northernmost parts of Nevada to work and minister with the buckaroos (cowboys) on their remote ranches. Our original plan was to stop for the night somewhere in Utah, but we couldn’t find a place on our route. So, on we trekked into the evening searching the Internet and road signs for a rodeo grounds in Nevada.

Finally, our Internet search paid off. Struggling to keep our weary eyes open, we headed for the rodeo grounds in the small gambling town of West Wendover. As we drove around the fence, we prayed that the gate would be unlocked. Rounding the corner, the gate was wide open. “Thank You, Jesus,” we breathed in unison, and squeezed our big rig through the small entrance. We shut down our truck, turned our horse, Nocona, out into a cow pen, and settled in— for about 10 minutes.

I glanced out the window and spotted two sets of rig lights inching down the fence line and turning onto the grounds. Oh, please don’t park right next to us. Dog-tired, we just wanted some peace and quiet.

Bruce and I looked on as they pulled in— right next to us. The man stepped out of his truck and headed for our door. As I cracked it open and peeked through, my mouth dropped. It was our friends from New York who had recently moved to California! What were they doing in Nevada? Their entire family, horses, dogs, and the whole shebang were packed into two vehicles and two horse trailers.

“Jason? No way!” we exclaimed, throwing the door open. “What are y’all doing here?”

Jason grinned as we exchanged bear hugs and handshakes. His wife and their four kids piled out of the vehicles and ran to our rig. Through happy tears, our friends described the exhausting events of their evening.

They were moving back to New York to settle some things. Their day had not been a good one. Planning to stay in Utah as well, they called ahead to a horse motel, but it was booked up. They, too, prayed for a rodeo grounds to spend the night. Tired and hungry, they also figured they’d have to spend the night in their vehicles just to keep an eye on their horses.

As they crept around the fence line, the kids had spotted our rig. “That’s Bruce and Shara!”, “That’s Bruce and Shara!”
“Kids, no, it can’t be.”
“YES, it IS! IT’S THEM!” they insisted.
Sure enough, as they drove closer, they recognized our Paint horse, Nocona, and realized it was indeed us.

As we helped our friends unload their herd, we assured them we would be that “watchful eye” so they could get some food and a good night’s sleep in town.

God is so good! Greatly encouraged, we all continued our treks the next day knowing that the Lord is always working on our behalf, even when we can’t see what’s going on “behind the scenes.”  

 (Proverbs 16:9--A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.)

www.ponyexpressministry.com

Walk Like a Warrior: Inspirational True Stories of God's Encouragement on the Trail Less-Traveled:  https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Like-Warrior-Inspirational-Encouragement-ebook/dp/B071SFQP2T