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Welcome to our Harvest Blog for 2023!


 
Welcome to our Harvest Blog! Over the next four days, we will share some thoughts and reflections on the importance of Harvest. In today's blog, we think about how Jesus' response to His disciples can shape our own response to the needs of others.
 
The story of Jesus feeding at least five thousand men, women and children is one of the most famous accounts of Jesus performing amazing, life-giving signs to show who He was. In the Gospel of Matthew, as the evening draws in, the disciples say to Jesus, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." (Matt 14:15).  Jesus' response is incredible.
They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.
Why is this incredible? Because as we read on, we see that Jesus performed one of the most well-known miracles, so well-known, that the saying "it was like trying to feed the five thousand!" is a colloquialism. We know how the story goes, don't we? It is incredible because Jesus looks to His disciples to do something utterly nature-defying.  With only five loaves and two fish, the disciples cannot possibly feed the multitude before them. But God can and He does. Jesus Christ - God made flesh - gives thanks and as He breaks up the small amount of food, it multiplies in His loving hands. Jesus gives His time, compassion and miraculous powers to feed the hungry people that He doesn't send away. Can you imagine if Jesus had taken the advice of His disciples? How would the rest of His story unfold? Perhaps the disciples's suggestion wasn't a bad suggestion, given that it was getting late and they were in a remote place. Jesus had already taken time to heal people. Isn't what the disciples suggested what we might suggest? But God works differently and He calls us to do the same by being part of His kingdom work all over the world (Rom 8:28). Not in our own power (Matt 19:26) or leaning towards our own understanding (Prov 3:5) but looking to Him to work miracles. God can and God does.
 
If you find what you read helpful and your church runs a harvest service, why not share these blogs with people in your church to encourage them to think more about harvest at this time of year. If you run a Harvest for the Hungry Sunday service or event, it could help as you share why harvest matters.


Bring Harvest Hope to Eastern Europe and the Balkans
 

Harvest for the Hungry is a project that has supported our Christian partners in Eastern Europe and the Balkans for over thirty years, through the generous giving of UK churches and individuals. What began with many dedicated UK Christians and churches sending food parcels over to Europe has now developed so that our amazing partners can buy food in-country, supporting their local economy and making your generous donations go further.


www.harvestforthehungry.org


 
Something Extra
Love Looks Like Something
Lucy Reid, our Mission Engagement Worker speaks about how love is something that if we mean it, we don't just say it. Watch Lucy's talk to learn more about how love looks.
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Harvest for the Hungry 2023 - Lucy's Talk
God bless you today and thank you for your continued support. The TEN team.


 
Posted: September 2023