Family Home Evening Thought - July 5

I have been thinking about blessings today - how richly we are blessed, as individuals and as a family. I thought of how the Lord works - we have needs, we give Him what we have, and He gives us what we need and more. Then I thought of how this lesson is taught in the scriptures.
1 Kings 17 - Elijah is told a widow woman will provide for him during a time of drought. He asks her for bread, and she explains that she has a little meal and oil, is going to prepare it for herself and her son, and then they will die. Elijah tells her to prepare and bring him a little cake first, "for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not waster, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth." It is recorded that this promise was fulfilled.
2 Kings 4 - Elisha was approached by a widow whose sons were to be taken be a creditor as bondsmen. Elisha asked what she had in the house. She had a pot of oil, nothing more. Elisha told her to bottow empty vessels from her neighbors, to borrow "not a few". She was to pour out the oil into the other vessels. She did so, and when all were filled, she still had oil in her pot. Elisha told her to sell the oil, pay the debt, and she and her children were to live on the rest.
Mark 6 (also Matthew 14) - Christ had been teaching all day, and the multitude were hungry. There was only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. The Savior took all that there was, blessed it, brake, and the disciples distributed it among the people. "and they all did eat, and were filled." 5000 were fed, and there were 12 baskets of leftovers.
Matthew 15 - again, a multitude had gathered to hear the Master teach, and for three days, they were with him. The Savior noted their hunger, and asked the disciples what they had to feed the people. There were 7 loaves and a few little fishes, according to the record. Again, He took, blessed, brake, and gave to His disciples to feed the people. There were 4000 fed and 7 baskets of the broken meat left.
In this dispensation, when the Saints were forced to flee Nauvoo, taking what they had, there were many who didn't have enough to care for their families. It was October,1846, and many were struggling to get to Winter Quarters, where the Saints would winter in preparation for a spring departure to the west. The records show that on Oct. 9, quail appeared in the camp, so many that the Saints could pick them up with their hands. As had happened to ancient Israel camped in the wilderness (Exodus 16), there was sufficient for their needs that day. Later that day, additional supplies were delivered to the camp.

It is my testimony that when we give the Lord all we have, He will take, give us what we need, and He always gives us more. May we all diligently give what we have, for the blessings are without measure. We have seen great blessings in the family recently, especially with Katherine and the flood waters. As King Benjamin said, (Mosiah 2:21-24) "and he are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever."

Love, Mom