...So that NOTHING is Wasted



"Gather what is left so that nothing is wasted."  I woke from sleep upon hearing these words.  Looking back on the experience, I am unclear whether they came from the words of a preacher on the Bott Radio Network that I have turned on softly all night or from Someone else, for my ears only. 

I didn't fall back to sleep immediately.  Instead my mind raced to my "storehouse" of Bible knowledge.  I KNEW these were Jesus' words to His disciples following the Feeding of the 5,000.

I searched them out specifically the next morning. (By the way, except for the resurrection of Christ, the Feeding of the 5,000 is the only other miracle recorded in all four Gospels.)  Matthew, Mark and Luke all say something like this:  "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."
However, John wrote (6:12-13)  "After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, 'Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.'  So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves."

The immediate message was clear to me.  My own body had been broken several times in 2014.  A recent fall has left me in a some pretty serious pain and semi-dependent on the assistance of my husband.  There are times when I wonder if pain and stilted movements will be part of the rest-of-my-life.  "Broken" well describes my spirit at times...

But the instruction was clear (then AND now):  "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted."

Imagine my sense of amazement and awe the next morning when a friend responded with these words to my facebook message thanking her for visiting us the previous night and bringing along a book I've been wanting to read:   
We enjoyed it as well. 
Seems like something that could have happened in the book you're reading. 
May your recovery be speedy and unwasted.

Unwasted!   Let NOTHING be wasted, Lord!
Not the pain. Not the brokenness.  Not even the recovery!
  NOTHING.

7 comments:

  1. He uses everything to show us. Let the pain, the circumstances, the joys, the tears be lessons to bring us constantly closer to Him. What a lovely post dear lady... mari

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  2. Oh how this touched my heart. I read something yesterday about finding joy in the joyless. Everything is sifted thru His hands and for His glory! Prayers for you, precious Lady.

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  3. Amen...this has been a cry of my own heart as I have felt stuck and seem to waste what He has so freely given me. Thanks for these timely words. I am praying for healing for you.

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    1. Thank you for your prayers! Let us confess, move on, and REFUSE to accept defeat. For me, at least, the enemy of my soul seems keen on immobilizing me. Keeping me stuck. I stubbornly claim THIS moment to be faithful and productive....

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  4. Beautiful insight! Praying for a quick recovery for you dear Rebecca.

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    1. I'm smiling your direction, Colleen :) Thank you for your prayers. Progress seems slow, but it's all relative, I guess...

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)