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Written Reflections

Journey Through Advent

Journey Through Advent - The Way of Provision

There are a number of definitions for the word ‘provision’, depending on which dictionary you refer to!  One of the meanings is to make sure that someone has the things they need.  As human beings we all have the basic need for food and water, clothing and shelter.  There are, of course, others.

As we look through the Bible, we find many times and various ways that God provided for his people. For the Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt, he provided manna, water, quail and the 10 Commandments. For those that followed Jesus and gathered to hear him speak, he provided healing from sickness, sight to the blind, freedom from evil spirits.  As well as impressive food distribution when he multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the multitude who had been listening to Jesus’ words of truth and life.

Pondering on God’s provision and the Christmas season, I was reminded of an amazing story of a miracle at the Juárez Rubbish Dump in Mexico many years ago.

Inspired by Luke 14: 12-14 Father Richard Thomas and the members of the prayer group he ran, decided to go to the dump on Christmas Day 1972 and give food to the poor people who worked there, sifting through the rubbish to find cans, bottles, and cardboard that they could sell.  They prepared enough food for 125 people, but when they arrived they discovered not only that there were many more people, but also that there were two unions working on two separate areas of the dump. The people from one area were not allowed to go to the other and vice versa. So Father Richard had to negotiate with the unions so that the people could gather together in one area, to receive the food.

He explained that they had not bought enough food with them, but that they would share what they had. They served food to 350 people and there was food left over. The people took food away with them and then came back for more……and there was still food left over!  So the people took more food and the food that remained was distributed to three orphanages. 

You can see Father Richard talking about how they came to take food to the dump, and some of the people involved in this event here    

As we travel through life, we will each have our own accounts of how God has provided for us as individuals on our journey of faith. We will also have memories of how God has provided for us in the situations, circumstances, and events that we have experienced. 

I would like to invite you to pause and reflect back over this unprecedented year of global pandemic. It has been a year like no other and there have been many changes and challenges. 

  • How have you seen God’s provision for you during the pandemic?
  • How has God surprised you in this season?
  • What do Paul’s words to the Philippians mean to you at the moment:

I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ! Philippians 4:19 TPT

Whatever the  nature and extent of the challenges and changes that we have experienced, it is encouraging and comforting to recall that,

“I am the Lord, and I do not change.”  Malachi 3:6 NLT

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

Written by Dorinda Miller; © D Miller 2020. For full credits please see the site credits page

Next Reflection:

The Way of Partying