A Lesson in Leftovers from the Book of John

Just for the record...this is Amy and I didn't forget our blog... I've just been busy! Imagine that? And I totally would have blogged about Cooper's splinter in the behind, but Kara beat me to it! I think I must be a terrible Mom.....I laughed about the whole splinter thing-once I figured out that Cooper's leg wasn't hanging by a thread. Yes, that is how loud he was crying and screaming. I was in the kitchen and I could hear him all the way out at the barn!!
Our house church group is reading and discussing our way through the book of John. Last night we were reading through John 6, which I have read and contemplated alot lately, as Cooper and I also just read about feeding the 5000 in homeschool. But, I read John 6:13 and thought-why did Jesus have them gather the leftovers? Certainly, HE can provide food, WHENEVER HE wants to. We know He performs all sorts of miracles. Now, we don't have leftovers very often in our house- with 9 kids and often extras showing up for dinner and all.....and often times, if you're not here at dinnertime, well, then, you may have to dig to find your own dinner later. Especially if it's fresh fish, caught from the pond that very afternoon, right Shelby?? But, I believe, that Jesus' lesson in leftovers, is this....God always gives abundantly! Often times, I am so guilty, of giving Him only my "leftovers". But being the great God that He is, He takes that little bit of time, ability, effort, or resources that I have and He multiplies its effectiveness beyond my wildest expectations. If we take that first step of making ourselves available to God, even just what is "leftover" than HE will show us how we can be used to advance the work of HIS kingdom. That is not to say that we shouldn't give Him our all! Oh, how I want to....but He knows we grow weary and weak, so I'll keep plugging away. And praise God that He loves our "leftovers"-even if my kids don't! And, I stand in awe of seeing what He does with the leftovers, just as the 5000 did, after HE created leftovers from those 5 small barley loaves.......