This is a beautiful reminder of what "give us this day our daily bread" truly means.
I have had these thoughts for a long time...it is such a statement all by itself.
I am music minister at a tiny but mighty church that only has about 20-25 people per Sunday. And yet, we feed 1200 people a week at the food bank on that same property. Many of those 20 people unload the truck and visit every single week with those families. It is a tiny miracle every week. And iI can't think of a better place to be. It is a matter of daily bread on all levels. Thank you for this writing. I am sharing it.
We also are part of a very small church. We call ourselves a David size church. However, we have planted churches in the US and in Africa. Our prayer us to saturate our state with churches, every home a church. Praise God that he can work through the smallest group to bring about His purpose.
My husband and I are not of retirement age, and work seasonally on farms and ranches, traveling the country in our motorhome, having sold our modest little rural house seven and a half years ago.
We make do with little, but do give to panhandlers...but especially enjoy buying groceries for others.
We can't always spend a lot, but I like getting in line behind an elderly person, or a stressed out mom, and instructing the cashier that we'll pay for theirs along with our own.
It's a beautiful feeling, and I always ask them to pay it forward when they can. One older lady was madder than a wet hen, and said she didn't want us to, but I insisted. She asked 'why on earth would you do this?" She was nonplussed when I told her it's what the Lord asks of me.
Hopefully, it made a ripple that expands as it travels outward. Whether she paid it forward, or told the story to others who were inspired by it.
I have never regretted doing it, and the Lord ensures we never feel want.
"I have never regretted doing it" - I agree with this completely. I can't tell you how many times I've regretted hoarding resources, but I've never regretted being generous.
Also, we just read Pay It Forward with our oldest son for a class assignment and had some beautiful conversations!
Certainly true a scarcity mindset is widespread, particularly in wealthy countries. Billionaires have more than they will ever need, but compete to get even more.
Now retired, we are hoingbthe other way, downsizing and simplifying. We have downsized our housing to a studio. Last year we spent 302 nights travelling in our caravan.
I pack for 7 days. Life is better when it is simpler.
People keep saying (wrongly) that America did badly under Biden. Truth is every economic indicator, including incomes and employment, were better than now under Trump. There is a scarcity mindset which ignores reality.
This is brilliantly written. I am trying to live more by this philosophy, but boy, it is challenging. When I do spend, I try to donate as well so that I am doing something to share what God has blessed me with. I’m going to reread this post often and share it.
As soon as I allowed the internal rage I was feeling to run its course, the first feeling I had was peace. Peace in knowing that no matter what happened, I was going to do exactly what I was put on this Earth to do. Love my neighbors and care for those in need.
We’re going back to our roots. My neighbors and I are all growing a community garden in hopes of having excessive amounts of food to give away, can, and process into things to share with those around us.
I am researching and learning about mutual aid networks and how I can start one here at home.
The fear of scarcity has empowered me. I believe God is talking to me through my fear. I’m not worried for me, and I’m at peace knowing that I will be amongst people I love and care about and that together we can live with His peace that he will provide.
I’ve never been able to hoard wealth, but I’ve also made it 37 years with everything I need to survive and feel and share love. I think that’s the ultimate bank account.
Matras which affirm abundance and counter the scarcity mindset are elsewhere in the Bible: Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”; and Deuteronomy 8:3 –“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” being two examples.
Similar mantras can be found in many other non-Christian spiritual philosophies as well. Some examples (will a little assistance from ChatGPT) are:
Quran 65:3 – “And He will provide for him from sources he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.”
Hadith (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) –“If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision as the birds are: they go out in the morning hungry and return full.”
Bhagavad Gita 9.22 – “To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. Those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.”
Isha Upanishad 1 – “Everything in this world is pervaded by the Divine. Enjoy with a sense of detachment, and do not covet what belongs to another.”
Dhammapada 2: "Mind Creates Reality" –“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”
Zen Teaching on Sufficiency – “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 81 (Lao Tzu) – “The more he gives to others, the more he has for himself.”
But my favorite, and the one I have tried to live by for 50 years of my adult life is "Don't worry. What you need will be there when you need it", which a very wise friend of mine told me a long time ago.
Whatever your preference, if you commit to the idea of abundance and reject the scarcity mindset, what you need will be there and the folly of the zero-sum-game will become apparent.
In my tradition, we have a sweet extention to "Give us this day our daily bread" by Mary Baker Eddy. It's Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections.
I have wonderful memories of the most healing church I ever attended...my very first (I was 24). It was a congregation of 75. We knew the inside of each other's homes, what our prayers were for, and all of our names. Our worship instrument was a piano. That's it. But our worship was heartfelt and the Holy Spirit was with us. It wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful. As I moved to different places, I found myself intrigued by bigger churches with more "professional" worship services but was left empty and feeling alone. These days I fight against manipulation and greed by recognizing marketing techniques that trigger FOMO. If I receive an email, I close it out at the first mention of "almost gone," or "twelve more hours," or any of those types of messages. When I think I "need" something, I make myself wait before I click the "Buy now" button. One time about five years ago I determined to count how many times I was marketed to in a day. I even tried to count the billboards and so forth as I drove to work. I couldn't do it. I loved your explanation for our daily bread Zach.
"It wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful." This is my favorite explanation of church community. It's never going to be perfect, but when we lean into the Way of Jesus, it's so beautiful.
This piece really spoke to me and convicted me. I need to work on my scarcity mindset
Back in another lifetime I made trips to Liberia for aid work. I made a friend who was my mirror in many ways - another single mom with three children, two girls and a boy. In her I saw what my life would have looked like if I had been born in Liberia instead of America- how much more hand to mouth struggle.
Although I haven’t been back to Liberia in over a decade we have stayed in touch - by some miracle I was able to help her get financially her set up in a cottage industry and keep her kids in school. Even all the years I was a struggling single mom myself I was able to scrape together or raise the school fees every year. She checks in with me by WhatsApp on a monthly basis often just to pray for ME. So humbling. She gets it - the faith that God will provide and the contentment with daily bread. Her faith inspires me to do the same
This is beautiful, Roxanne. I am consistently bewildered, too, by how much our birth location affects the most basic details of our lives. It's really not fair. Thank you for sharing.
This is a beautiful reminder of what "give us this day our daily bread" truly means.
I have had these thoughts for a long time...it is such a statement all by itself.
I am music minister at a tiny but mighty church that only has about 20-25 people per Sunday. And yet, we feed 1200 people a week at the food bank on that same property. Many of those 20 people unload the truck and visit every single week with those families. It is a tiny miracle every week. And iI can't think of a better place to be. It is a matter of daily bread on all levels. Thank you for this writing. I am sharing it.
What amazing work you and your church community are doing, Peggy. Thank you for your faithfulness and for sharing!
We also are part of a very small church. We call ourselves a David size church. However, we have planted churches in the US and in Africa. Our prayer us to saturate our state with churches, every home a church. Praise God that he can work through the smallest group to bring about His purpose.
I love this, Daryl!
Thank you, Zach, this is beautiful.
My husband and I are not of retirement age, and work seasonally on farms and ranches, traveling the country in our motorhome, having sold our modest little rural house seven and a half years ago.
We make do with little, but do give to panhandlers...but especially enjoy buying groceries for others.
We can't always spend a lot, but I like getting in line behind an elderly person, or a stressed out mom, and instructing the cashier that we'll pay for theirs along with our own.
It's a beautiful feeling, and I always ask them to pay it forward when they can. One older lady was madder than a wet hen, and said she didn't want us to, but I insisted. She asked 'why on earth would you do this?" She was nonplussed when I told her it's what the Lord asks of me.
Hopefully, it made a ripple that expands as it travels outward. Whether she paid it forward, or told the story to others who were inspired by it.
I have never regretted doing it, and the Lord ensures we never feel want.
"I have never regretted doing it" - I agree with this completely. I can't tell you how many times I've regretted hoarding resources, but I've never regretted being generous.
Also, we just read Pay It Forward with our oldest son for a class assignment and had some beautiful conversations!
Certainly true a scarcity mindset is widespread, particularly in wealthy countries. Billionaires have more than they will ever need, but compete to get even more.
Now retired, we are hoingbthe other way, downsizing and simplifying. We have downsized our housing to a studio. Last year we spent 302 nights travelling in our caravan.
I pack for 7 days. Life is better when it is simpler.
"Life is better when it is simpler." Amen, Michael.
People keep saying (wrongly) that America did badly under Biden. Truth is every economic indicator, including incomes and employment, were better than now under Trump. There is a scarcity mindset which ignores reality.
This is brilliantly written. I am trying to live more by this philosophy, but boy, it is challenging. When I do spend, I try to donate as well so that I am doing something to share what God has blessed me with. I’m going to reread this post often and share it.
“Acts 2:44-47” - This.
As soon as I allowed the internal rage I was feeling to run its course, the first feeling I had was peace. Peace in knowing that no matter what happened, I was going to do exactly what I was put on this Earth to do. Love my neighbors and care for those in need.
We’re going back to our roots. My neighbors and I are all growing a community garden in hopes of having excessive amounts of food to give away, can, and process into things to share with those around us.
I am researching and learning about mutual aid networks and how I can start one here at home.
The fear of scarcity has empowered me. I believe God is talking to me through my fear. I’m not worried for me, and I’m at peace knowing that I will be amongst people I love and care about and that together we can live with His peace that he will provide.
I’ve never been able to hoard wealth, but I’ve also made it 37 years with everything I need to survive and feel and share love. I think that’s the ultimate bank account.
What beautiful work you are doing!
Thank you for this post. It's really a helpful reminder of "enough" and God's provision.
Thanks for this essay. I especially appreciate your reference to Brené Brown’s book, which has had a profound impact on my life.
Her work has been so impactful for me too
Matras which affirm abundance and counter the scarcity mindset are elsewhere in the Bible: Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”; and Deuteronomy 8:3 –“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” being two examples.
Similar mantras can be found in many other non-Christian spiritual philosophies as well. Some examples (will a little assistance from ChatGPT) are:
Quran 65:3 – “And He will provide for him from sources he never could imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.”
Hadith (Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) –“If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision as the birds are: they go out in the morning hungry and return full.”
Bhagavad Gita 9.22 – “To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. Those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.”
Isha Upanishad 1 – “Everything in this world is pervaded by the Divine. Enjoy with a sense of detachment, and do not covet what belongs to another.”
Dhammapada 2: "Mind Creates Reality" –“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”
Zen Teaching on Sufficiency – “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 81 (Lao Tzu) – “The more he gives to others, the more he has for himself.”
But my favorite, and the one I have tried to live by for 50 years of my adult life is "Don't worry. What you need will be there when you need it", which a very wise friend of mine told me a long time ago.
Whatever your preference, if you commit to the idea of abundance and reject the scarcity mindset, what you need will be there and the folly of the zero-sum-game will become apparent.
In my tradition, we have a sweet extention to "Give us this day our daily bread" by Mary Baker Eddy. It's Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections.
Thank you for this.
I have wonderful memories of the most healing church I ever attended...my very first (I was 24). It was a congregation of 75. We knew the inside of each other's homes, what our prayers were for, and all of our names. Our worship instrument was a piano. That's it. But our worship was heartfelt and the Holy Spirit was with us. It wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful. As I moved to different places, I found myself intrigued by bigger churches with more "professional" worship services but was left empty and feeling alone. These days I fight against manipulation and greed by recognizing marketing techniques that trigger FOMO. If I receive an email, I close it out at the first mention of "almost gone," or "twelve more hours," or any of those types of messages. When I think I "need" something, I make myself wait before I click the "Buy now" button. One time about five years ago I determined to count how many times I was marketed to in a day. I even tried to count the billboards and so forth as I drove to work. I couldn't do it. I loved your explanation for our daily bread Zach.
"It wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful." This is my favorite explanation of church community. It's never going to be perfect, but when we lean into the Way of Jesus, it's so beautiful.
This piece really spoke to me and convicted me. I need to work on my scarcity mindset
Back in another lifetime I made trips to Liberia for aid work. I made a friend who was my mirror in many ways - another single mom with three children, two girls and a boy. In her I saw what my life would have looked like if I had been born in Liberia instead of America- how much more hand to mouth struggle.
Although I haven’t been back to Liberia in over a decade we have stayed in touch - by some miracle I was able to help her get financially her set up in a cottage industry and keep her kids in school. Even all the years I was a struggling single mom myself I was able to scrape together or raise the school fees every year. She checks in with me by WhatsApp on a monthly basis often just to pray for ME. So humbling. She gets it - the faith that God will provide and the contentment with daily bread. Her faith inspires me to do the same
This is beautiful, Roxanne. I am consistently bewildered, too, by how much our birth location affects the most basic details of our lives. It's really not fair. Thank you for sharing.
So good! “Give us this day our daily bread” ( for it is enough for your daily needs. Trust Me.)