How do you celebrate patriotic holidays? Flag-waving, parades, memorials, fireworks - and food! Now, if Peggie's Place had a "picnic on the grounds," ya'll from around the world (see Countries visiting Peggie's Place) could come and join us for a pretty amazing picnic, can't you just imagine!!
There WAS a "picnic on the grounds" in Bible times. It didn't start out that way--but we evangelicals know that any spiritual gathering usually concludes with a potluck, so these Bible people were right in style. Only problem was--there wasn't any food! Hard to do a picnic with no food.....well, there was a "little" food--but what in the world could a crowd of FIVE THOUSAND do with one little boy's LUNCH?? Nonsense!--but wait a minute, it's not what the crowd could do with the lunch...it's what JESUS did with the lunch, and that made all the difference in the world!
You see, Jesus, on that wonderful day, broke the five loaves and two fishes and somehow they multiplied with amazingly enough to feed the entire crowd--and leftovers besides. Now Moms can strrretch food a long way sometimes--but never like that! Only God could extend that little bit of lunch to feed so many. Talk about a picnic on the grounds--why, it's STILL talked about, two thousand years later. Why?
Because miracles in the Bible are awesome, but when they deal with every day, practical needs--like food, clothing, shelter--we relate! We're people of great need--daily--but we also know a God of great supply. He did it that day--and He can do it again, WHATEVER you need. He is the great Provider, the same yesterday, today and forever--and He WILL provide.
So go ahead--work, if you must; picnic, if you can--and remember, GOD will be at your "picnic on the grounds" to supply your every need, whatever it is! Your "picnic ground" may currently be a "battle ground" but fear not! The God of BOUNTY knows how to turn even BATTLES into His blessed provision. Believe it--and have a wonderful holiday today!
P.S. Be sure to check out the picnic-related/bug-related links below--they're good--not the bugs, the food!!
Delight in a Word from the Well--a refreshing in the Water of His Word
John 6:1-13 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand
"But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)."
A Little Girl and Her Lunch--Peggie's modern-day twist to one of our favorite Bible stories!
"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)."
Draw from the Well--a song and a prayer for renewing strength for this day
Prayer: Lord, there's no picnic happening in MY backyard; I have needs multiplied--and I now need a miracle multiplied! You are my Provider--the God who meets ALL my needs. You are the same "yesterday, today and forever," and I place my trust in You, oh faithful Lord, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
