I like stories. Today I'm writing down the ones that touched me last week.
My youngest daughter is currently on OM's mission ship, the Logos Hope, for a year. She is experiencing many adventures with God, but also how He provides in small ways. Unfortunately, there is not as much fruit on the ship as she would like, and on the very day when there would have been apples for dessert, she had to work overtime. But without her telling anyone, a new friend from the island where they were stopping gave her two apples the next day! She was so surprised and happy! She told this story at our church service on Sunday when she was visiting with the mobilization team. After the service, I went into the building next door with a woman who is also attending the Alpha course and is just taking her first steps in faith. As we turned the corner, there was a beautiful red apple lying lonely and abandoned on a bench! We looked at each other in disbelief. Had God put another apple here for her? We left it there so that my daughter could find it. But later it was gone and she didn't see it. Maybe the apple was there especially for us after all?
The team also told us that they had visited a youth group in Germany who had experienced an incredible story: One evening they ran out of vinegar and prayed that God would send them vinegar so they could make the salads. (Oh, how nice it is when you can combine youthful chaos with youthful faith!) Anyway, shortly afterwards the doorbell rang. A truck had broken down with a flat tire and had to get rid of the load in order to continue its journey. The driver wondered if they could use a pallet of vinegar? Since then, they have been giving away vinegar everywhere because they have so many bottles now! And they decided to be more precise in their prayers in the future, haha!
God is a God of abundance. He gives in abundance. Not always like in these stories. But time and again he shows his generosity. His ability to do everything. His humor. God is generous beyond measure with his blessings.
In Hebrew, justice and generosity are the same word: zedekah. God rains down his justice, his beneficence, his blessing on us, it says in Isaiah. His blessing includes protection, kindness, grace, loving care and peace, as it says in the Aronite blessing. And then this blessing-rain makes fruit grow in us: also love and kindness and peace. And a few other things too (fruit of the spirit). How exciting when the Bible comes alive and everything fits together more and more like in a crossword puzzle!
I find it so beautiful to look out for this blessings. In stories with God that I myself or others experience with God. Because it always increases my joy. And you can never have enough joy.
May the LORD bless you and protect you,
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.
Numbers 6:24-26