"Be Fertile and Multiply"

Jesus multiplies...55 Student Leaders in 2011 from 18 in 2009!

"And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?”And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”  And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground,  he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.  Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 15:33-38)

     
     I had been blessed to serve at South Dakota State University with FOCUS for two beautiful years! Looking back on my journey I can honestly say that it was more of a gift to me then anyone else. My Heavenly Father taught me so much and the greatest of these was LOVE! I discovered the key to being a disciple of Christ, that is, to Love but as St. Paul tells us, "Love must be sincere." It was through humbling myself before these students that I was truly able to give and receive. God chooses the weak to lead the strong and it was awe-inspiring to live this Truth. It was through acknowledging my weaknesses that God was able to use me for I knew that it was only by the power of the Holy Spirit that hearts could be transformed, "I am nothing without God, and everything because of Him."

     One of my bible study students, Nancy, brought wisdom to our study one evening in regards to the passage in Matthew. She said, "Our Lord understands that we have little to give but when we surrender to Him the gifts that we do have, He uses them in unimaginable ways! The disciples brought to God what they had, 7 loaves and a few small fish, and He performed a miracle!! He fed thousands with what little they had. This is what God does with our lives, we lay our lives down at His feet and He feeds thousands! There is no telling how many lives we will touch by the love of Christ but when we enter into His Kingdom we will see, so "lay up for yourselves treasure in Heaven." (Mt. 6:20) 

"What love He has for us!!"