How much rice do you have?

How much rice do you have in your home right now?  If it's anything like mine, I have enough for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for several days.  And if I wanted, I could go buy more right now. 

We were reminded yet again of how rich and "fat" we are with blessings.  One of our AIM staff members was counting his blessings yesterday.  Among them is the fact that he has "just enough" rice for his daily bread.  He doesn't have a surplus and he is not looking for a surplus.  He counts this as a blessing because on a daily basis he has to come before God and pray for tomorrow's daily bread.  As he stated, if he had more than enough, he would not have the opportunity to kneel before God and ask for His provisions. 

I know I regularly sit back and think "I'll pray for this or that" and either ramble off a quick prayer to God or simply forget.  I have never been in the position where I do not know where my next meal is coming from.  Even now as missionaries, we are blessed beyond measure.  Some months will be tighter than others, but we still have a surplus of "rice".  Yet, there is something so rich and amazing I have not gained that many of our Dominican counterparts have.  They rely on God completely for their livelihood.  They rely on him for food, water, shelter, clothing, and anything they need.  And God always provides for them.  It is very humbling to hear story after story about not having enough food to feed their family and God provides through a generous person, a donation, something dropping off a food truck...  The list goes on and on of God's power and mercy.  I pray that my time here in the Dominican will help me to become more faithful in God's power.  I pray I will come to know what it is like to rely on God for food, water, and shelter rather than my own provisions.  I pray I will gain that deeper connection and love for God as He provides for my needs.

 

One of my favorite verses:

"And why do you worry about your clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin... So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:28-34