What Can You Do With Sardines and Crackers?

My husband likes sardines. Not sure why, but as long as I don’t have to eat them, he can have all he wants!  He takes them to work for his lunch with a variety of crackers. Over the weekend we had to go out and restock his supply.

On Sunday our pastor talked about the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  He talked about how the fish and loaves were probably more like sardines and crackers then what we might picture in our minds as plump fish and large loaves of crusty bread.

I wonder what the disciples were thinking, looking at that measly offering. Did they have the faith to believe that Jesus could actually feed all those people with just that little bit?

Sometimes Jesus asks me to do something and the first thing I think about is the resources I have. Usually a pitiful amount in my own estimation. But in God’s economy, the amount isn’t the important thing.

The important thing is that we offer what we have. We start where we are. We don’t wait to feel like we can accomplish the task until after we have taken inventory and are assured that there is enough to do the job.

I am guilty of waiting far too long before I move forward.  In my last post I talked about taking risks. Being able to complete the work God has called me to do requires taking risks. Moving forward always requires a certain amount of risk. But then I have to ask myself, “what do I have to lose?”  If I stay the way I am, waiting to be equipped before I move forward, I could be waiting forever. The Israelites had to step in between the walls of water when the Lord parted the Red Sea. They didn’t have time to take inventory, they had to just move.

It’s a lesson I’m still working on. The idea that I already have the resources to take the first step. Whatever I need for the rest of the journey will be provided AFTER I take that first step of faith. Why is that so hard for me to believe?  I think it’s because I have accepted the lie that seeing is believing.

The reality is that believing is seeing.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.