Bread

 Relatively short post today because Ive been stupidly busy and am rather tired and havent really got my head round a blog post.

I dont know about you but I am sick to death of hearing about the ' cost of living crisis'.  Im no longer watching the news because I do not want to be bombarded with story after story of how people are having to choose between heating and eating. Im sure there are some people who are in that situation for whom life at the moment is very difficult. But Im equally sure that the media is spreading fear like a virus and causing more damage than any budget constraints.

Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life.  He is our staple diet.  Our everyday, go-to, satisfying, life giving provision.  He told us He would never leave us or forsake us.  He says that if we give to Him He will give back to us ' pressed down, shaken together and running over'.    This is my testimony.  There have been times over the past few years where Keith and I , after tithing, have had just enough money at the end of every month to pay the bills.  Not enough for anything extra.  No fancy holidays or new cars. But enough food on the table and all bills paid.  During these times we have always tried to be generous to others.  Kindness often costs nothing.    Keith has been working short term contracts for a while now which means that every nine months to a year he is looking for another job.  We pray. God has always provided. Always.   

A couple of years ago we did quite a big favour for some friends. As a result the friends began to pray for us asking God to bless us financially.   Its funny because thats not really something we would pray for ourselves. We ask for work. We say thank you to God for answering those prayers and meeting our needs but we never ask for more.  But our friends prayed for more for us.  And guess what?  More has come!  In unexpected ways, and more abundantly than we could have anticipated.  As a result we have been able to navigate our way through price hikes and the so-called ' crisis' and still have enough to bless others.   Which is of course exactly what God promises.

So today I challenge you to pick someone you know is sailing financially close to the wind and begin to pray specifically that Jesus, the bread of life, our provider, will bless their finances.  Make that your project between now and Christmas.  You might not discover how those prayers are answered but I am pretty confident they will be.   And you never know, perhaps someone will be praying those prayers for you.