feed them

There are so many times in my life when I have been frustrated by ministry. You plan for hours, pray for hours and put together a message or a lesson and only a few show up. You feel like you have wasted your time and then you put your Jesus glasses on and you see what you should do. I can remember times when we had 5 youth or less show up for a BIble study and you just have to smile and feed them. I recall Sunday mornings(not long ago at all) when I had spent hours of preparation for the BIble study and the worship service only to have 20-25 show up. What do you do? There are so many excuses out there, we were tired, we have been real busy, little league, work, grocery shopping, etc.. etc... THere are so many excuses, that sometimes you want to make your own. Wait for that day when everyone is there and tell them you are tired, you've had a busy week so you didn't prepare a sermon. Then you think about how Jesus would handle it. He would just feed them.
Armando Silverio told me as a young youth pastor how I should handle these situations. He told me that if I had 6 children of my own and one night Tara had cooked a huge dinner and we had set the table and been all ready for everyone to eat a meal together. What would you do if only 3 of your children showed up? FIrst of all you would be concerned about the 3 that didn't show, and probably be upset that they didn't show. But, in reality you would feed the three that did show. This is a very simple concept that many people don't get. You are talking for God so you feed the ones that come hungry.
But He answered, 'You give them something to eat.'" Mark 6:37
That's what Jesus says, they came here with needs so feed them. Feed them physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually with all that you have to offer. When God calls people to do things He doesn't bring the masses, He may be calling us to reach one or two souls at a time. And if that is the case, you will never change anyone if you don't feed them.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!