“They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.  And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces” (Mark 8:7-8).

The Lord satisfies the hungry heart.  There is always more than enough.  No matter the privations of this world, our Lord can and does feed our souls.  From a little He grows His likeness and creates in all who believe a deep repository of His goodness.  He said that He was making all things new and that includes all who walk in faith.  Trust the author and finisher of our souls.

Almighty God, I stop at the place where I ask how is this possible.  I forget that You have told me that with You all things are possible.  Take me ever farther in faith so that I stop questioning Your ability, but learn how to trust that through all things, You will bring them together for good for those who love You.  Guide me in this faith You have given me and help me to learn how to faithfully walk trusting You above all things.

Come Holy Spirit and feed my soul.  Fill me to overflowing that the gifts You give may spill out to others.  Lead me so that I bear fruit befitting the kingdom.  Help me through all that will come my way this day to not lose sight of Your provision, granting me my daily bread.  Nourish me from Your bounty that I may live by faith in the grace You give and be satisfied with Your presence in me this day.  Amen.

“And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”  And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people” (Mark 8:5-6).

How many?  Seven.  In one week, seven days, the Lord created all that is around us.  Without becoming too literal, see the connection with seven.  It is a number that is often called the number of perfection or completion.  God will complete us according to His will.  We walk by faith trusting that the Lord will accomplish all that He has purposed.  He will give us all that we need.

Lord God, Creator of the universe, not from a little, but from nothing You have created all things.  From what we may call a little, You provide for all who are in need.  Though this story is about feeding a multitude, it also applies to my life of faith.  From the little I have received, grow in me what You intend.  Help me to understand that You are creating me to be a child of the Heavenly Father.  You will make of me what You will.

Lord Jesus, Savior of my soul, guide me in this new creation which You have brought to me through faith.  Lead me to gain wisdom on the journey and learn how to walk according to all of Your ways.  Amidst the daily struggles, remind me that You, through whom all things have their being, are more than able to accomplish what You have purposed through the circumstances in which You have placed me.  Amen.

Scripture

Matthew 5:13-20

 

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

 

Pastor: How are you doing today, Sammy?

 

Sammy: I am doing great! Today we are talking about salt. I know all about salt. There is a ton of it outside.

 

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

 

Sammy: There’s salt all over the sidewalks and parking lot here at church. Haven’t you seen it, Pastor?

 

Pastor: Yes I have. It’s a special kind of salt that helps melt the snow and ice. We don’t eat it.

 

Sammy: Oh. That’s good to know.

 

Pastor: You tasted it, didn’t you?

 

Sammy: Yep.

 

Pastor: Boys and girls, we put a special salt for eating on our food. The salt on the ground outside is not good to eat, but salt that your parents and grandparents give you is good to eat. I have some salt with me here. Let’s talk about it. What are some things you notice about it?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Sammy: What kinds of foods do you put salt on? 

 

Pastor: I put salt on every dinner cooked at home.

 

Sammy: Do your dinners need salt? Aren’t they just fine the way they are?

 

Pastor: Yes they are wonderful.

 

Sammy: Boys and girls, what kinds of foods do you put salt on?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: Talking about salt is really important. We all eat and use salt. Jesus is talking about salt and how his followers need to be the salt of the earth. 

 

Sammy: What does that mean?

 

Pastor: That means that we need to go into the world and spread the good news that Jesus is Lord. We are called to love God and each other.

 

Sammy: That’s a big job.

 

Pastor: Yes it is, but there are a lot of us, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us.

 

Sammy: Every time I eat salt, I’ll be thinking of Jesus calling us to be the salt of the earth.

 

Pastor: Wonderful, Sammy. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, help us to be the salt of the earth. Help us to share your message with everyone we meet. Thank you for being Lord and Savior of our lives. We love you. Amen.

 

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

 

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

 

Pastor: Sammy, today we have scripture from the Gospel of Matthew.

 

Sammy: Yes, it’s one of my favorites: The Bee-Attitudes.

 

Pastor: The what?

 

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes. You know, like honey bees, and bumblebees, and carpenter bees, and not like wasps or hornets or yellow jackets or anything like that.

 

Pastor: Here we go again.

 

Sammy: All right everyone! Can everyone help me with the Bee-Attitudes? Can you buzz like a bee? 

 

[Allow children time to buzz like bees]

 

Sammy: That was really good. But let’s do that again, but louder. Ready?

 

[Allow children to buzz like bees]

 

Sammy: Great job! That’s just the warm-up!

 

Pastor: Sammy, I don’t think you understand what Jesus is talking about.

 

Sammy: Of course I do, Pastor! We just had to warm up. Okay everyone! Are you ready for the next part?

 

Pastor: I can only imagine…

Sammy: Repeat after me: Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Let’s try again. Ready? Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Great job! See, Pastor. These are the Bee Attitudes.

 

Pastor: Oh I get it. The Beatitudes. Jesus is teaching us about who is and what he does. He is merciful in his forgiveness. He mourns over our sins and comforts us in our guilt. He is pure in heart and he makes peace between us and God.  What he is saying helps us to know how much he loves us. Even though we fall short of his love. People hearing these words for the first time would be surprised. 

Sammy: Why’s that? 

 

Pastor: Jesus says that those who are sad will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. The pure in heart will see God.

 

Sammy: These are big promises.

 

Pastor: Yes they are. They are promises that are filled by Jesus. He loves each one of us, and his love is a gift.

 

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes are fun. Can everyone buzz with me one more time?

 

Pastor: Great job, little bees. Let’s say a prayer and then you can buzz like a bee back to your seats. Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us how to live. Thank you for helping us with our Bee-Attitudes. We love you and praise your name. Amen.

 

Sammy: Buzzzzzz.

“If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”  And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” (Mark 8:3-4)

What does Jesus know that we do not know?  Do we think of the author and finisher of our faith as someone who’s suggestions we follow or do we just ponder the possibility?  Jesus shows us time and again that He operates from knowledge, whereas we react from experience.  The question before us all is whether or not we will trust Jesus and trust His word to us.  He does know and when He asks, it is from knowledge.

Lord God, how many times have I doubted?  How many times do I not trust what You say?  Help my unbelief so that I would put into action the things that You say.  Guide me in the way of life so that I live according to Your word above all things.  You know what we need even before we ask.  You, from whom all things came into being, are more than able to do what You say You will do.

Lord Jesus, You have set into motion all that is needed so that we may be forever united with You.  Guide me so that I may learn how to obey all that You command.  Take me beyond my doubts and fears so that I may humbly walk with You all the days of my life.  Guide me in the way of salvation knowing that You will complete what You have purposed.  You, the author of my faith, finish what You have come to do and complete me according to the Father’s will.  Amen.