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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

Last night was a treat for all of us, the weather got down to about 20 C which made for a chilly night on the roof of Mike and Teresa Grant's in Beauchamp. In fact most of us woke up and one point during the night because we were quite cool but we did not mind.

Today we spend the day at the orphanage in Beauchamp. The morning began with biscuits and gravy, an American breakfast, which happens to be among our favorite food here so far. After breakfast we prepared peanut butter sandwiches which we were going to give to the kids for their snack. Most of the children do not get much if anything to eat during any given day so to give them a peanut butter sandwich is of great importance for their nourishment.

As the children began entering the church we realized that there were going to be more kids than we had anticipated. Despite the large crowd we still had a great time singing songs with them, and playing other games outside with them in the 40 C heat. We also did a bible story skit for the kids and taught them Colossians 3:13 using actions.

We had prepared roughly 160 sandwiches for the kids at the orphanage for lunch so we did not to have more kids than we had sandwiches. As kids piled into the church we eventually had to shut the doors because there were more children than we had food and craft supplies for. When we finally counted the number of kids in the church there were 180 kids and 20 kids still standing outside. As lunch time came we began to pray because we in our finite minds knew that unless God would provide there would not be enough snack for all the children. Some of our own youth began passing out sandwiches and as they handed out sandwiches I kept watching in faith that God would provide food for all the children. All 180 children inside the church were fed, the 20 children outside were fed and we had 20 sandwiches left over! For those of you who are experts in math, this equation does not add up. We saw God's power and love poured out at the orphanage in Beauchamp. God provided a way when there was no way humanly possible.

I want to take this opportunity to speak on the way in which God revealed Himself at Beauchamp and about miracles. In North America, during the songs we sing at church on Sunday's  or when we speak to God in prayer we tend to ascribe attributes to Him such as Almighty, powerful, Amazing, Sovereign, sustainer, provider, my  redeemer and my all in all. To many, the idea of miracles invokes feelings of doubt and unbelief, perhaps there are some who read the above story and doubt that it really happened. For those who are believers in the one true God there should be no unbelief or astonishment when God does the miraculous. If our God is who he says he is in the bible and he is the God who we boldly sing and pray about, then any acts of God are not miraculous but rather signs of his power. If we truly believe in our God and who he is then there should be no doubt that God can do the impossible.

The act of God that we experienced today in Beauchamp should not be proclaimed merely as "the miracle" but rather as another reason to give glory, honor and praise to our God. Today has again reminded us as a group that our God is so great and that he is to be praised. We our to surrender our lives to God and live by faith knowing that he truly does provide for those who trust in him. Doug and I have been talking today and have realized that often times God manifests himself in the places that the Gospel is being spread, just as Paul healed the sick and blind on his missionary journeys. 

What I want to conclude with is a thought from Jesus. In Matthew 9 Jesus said, "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk? If you do not know the story please read it. The very fact that God has revealed himself to us by his Son Jesus and offers us forgiveness of sins is a far greater miracle that multiplying bread. All of us deserve eternal death for our sins and God, through Jesus has reversed this punishment. The fact that God allows us to know Him through his initiative is a miracle that we should all reflect on and be in awe of every day. 

Talk to you soon. Keep on praying.

Scott