Five Loaves and Two Fishes

Matthew 14:15-21 "As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children."

There are times - days, weeks and even months - when life just seems overwhelming. You don't have to be full-time employed outside your home to experience such times. These are times when you just feel that there is way more that needs done that there is time or energy to do.

Retreat season is prime-time for me to feel overwhelmed. I am keenly aware of my lack of ability and knowledge every time I am preparing for a women's retreat. I love doing the actual retreat; I love being with the women, I love the speaking but the preparation overwhelms me and I can get very stressed.

What is it in your life that can overwhelm you? Times when you feel there is more on your plate than is humanly possible to get done? That's how the disciples felt when Jesus told them to feed the crowd of over 5000 people with a measly 5 loaves and 2 fish. It was humanly impossible. But, and here's my point today, but when we surrender the little we have and trust God to accomplish through us what we can never do ourselves, much is accomplished in His power, in His strength, to His glory. So when you are faced with your crowd of hungry people, whatever that looks like in your life, offer to Jesus all you have, meager though it may be, pray for a "loaves and fishes day" and see how He multiplies many-fold what you bring.

I know I have written about this before, but allow me to repeat myself, because if nothing else I NEEDED THIS REMINDER TODAY.

Diane

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk - call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Victory Call for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds for the Victory Call team than the men raise for the Freedom Fighter's team. If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the "DESIGNATION" area : Family Freedom Walk: Victory Call or if you prefer make your check out to America's KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Victory Call and mail to : America's KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on ladies, we can do it!!!