Five Loaves and Two Fish

      Last week we got a call in our office at church asking if we could help a local school for teacher appreciation week.  They didn't have an ongoing PTO that could do it and the librarian was going to try to do it all by herself.  When she decided the job was too big she thought "I wonder if the Vineyard will help?"  We said yes right away.  Not because we had an abundance, or because we thought it'd be easy.  Really, we said yes, because we made a pre-determined decision that we weren't going to say that five loaves and two fish weren't enough anymore.   You may remember the story from Matthew 14:16 - 18.  When people were hungry and Jesus said to feed them.  The disciples wanted to send them home.  Jesus had other ideas when he gave thanks and multiplied those loaves and fish.

     We thought it would be a big recruiting effort.  Then I had my small group the next day and just mentioned the opportunity to about 10 friends.  I casually said if they wanted to help in some way to let me know.  In the next 24 hours, the emails flew back and forth and I watched people give what they had and Jesus multiply it to a week of 'teacher appreciation'.  I love when folks take their everyday ordinary life, let Jesus transform them and they become reluctant heroes.  No one is a hero on their own, but through Jesus and with each other we get to be a part of our Father's great search and rescue mission.  No more saying no....no turning back.  Let's open our hands, give thanks, and watch Jesus do miracles.

It's me, it's me, it's me!

     Yesterday I was a 'fill in' volunteer.  Someone was sick and we needed someone to 'help' the teacher for our Kingdom Kids.  I was happy to jump in to such an important job.  First, I joined our team upstairs as we pray before the service and then spend a couple of minutes of silence to listen for what we think Jesus may want to do in folks lives that morning.  One of our team got an impression of a student, walking through school and asking Jesus to help them and that he wanted to touch their heart today.   There were a few other encouraging thoughts, we prayed for each other and went on our way.

     Our class of ten children came down, I listened to my group talk about their week at school, how they think they could show kindness to others, and we played a game to learn our verse.  It was craft time, and almost time for the service to end, and my substitute job would be over.  Then I remembered that picture of that student.  So, I started to share with the kids how we pray before the service and someone got a picture of a student that.......... I didn't get much further than that and a little 6 year old boys hand shot into the air, "It's me, it's me, it's me.  I feel like all I do is get yelled at in school.  I can't figure out what I do wrong, and how to change.  I need Jesus to help me."

The other kids gathered around and prayed for him, and encouraged him, and his face lit up with the biggest smile.

     You know, we always talk about appreciating volunteers, and I do.....I really do.  It's just that I can't get that boys face out of my mind, and I can't stop thinking about a God who loves a 6 year old enough to give a picture to a group of people who are praying, just to encourage that young boy.  Maybe volunteers need to hold an appreciation day for the churches, schools, hospitals, and other places we serve. They provide the opportunity for us to be a hero in someones life, even if just for a brief moment.   Maybe when we're asked to serve our hands should go up and say 'It's me, it's me, it's me'.

Jesus said it best in Matthew 18:3 - For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.  Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom.  What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me."