How Many Loaves Do You Have?

“How many loaves do you have?" Mark 8:5

In the 6th chapter of Mark, Jesus was followed by 5,000 people and He tells His disciples to feed them, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” Of course they were flabbergasted and said, "With what? It would take a small fortune to buy food for this huge a crowd!!!" We would say the same, don't you think? Here in chapter 8 of Mark, there are less people, 4000. The disciples ask the same thing, but with less incredulity. "How are we supposed to find enough food for them here in the wilderness?"

"How many loaves of bread do YOU have?" Jesus asked.

I like these passages about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, because it shows that miracles start with what we have in our hand. What we give to God. A few days ago, several earthquakes and aftershocks devastated Syria and Turkey. Now we have learned that more than 23,000 have been confirmed dead, and with thousands of buildings fallen into rubble, many more may not be found for a long time. It is devastating and horrendous. When I saw the pictures and the videos, my first thought was how hopeless it all was. Any help we could send would just disappear like a drop of water into a vast ocean of need. But just as God multiplied whatever was given to Him before, He will do the same today. He is after all, the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

We need never lose hope. “The first 72 hours are considered to be critical,” said Steven Gody, a natural hazards expert at a University in England. At past 99 hours, children including two little sisters were found alive. Can you imagine the jubilation of those who were digging with their hands through the fallen stones and steel? 

How many loaves do WE have in our hands? Let us put it in God's hand and see miracles!

Left Overs

“Gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste.” 

John 6:12

Does God still multiply bread? Is He still in the business of miracles? I believe so. Just like He used the little boy who gave his five barley loaves and two fish to feed five thousand people, He uses Joe Dean Sola who gives his all to feed thousands of street children. That was not Joe Dean’s plan at all. He wanted to be a drug lord and become rich. He used Bible pages to wrap marijuana in to smoke. But one day Joe Dean saw 2 street kids in a waiting shed. He gave them food to eat, and gave them a bath. On August 10, 1996, he founded He Cares for street children in his garage. He cooked food for them, and cleaned them up. 

In 2013, he challenged the street toughies who sniffed rugby to give him their 5 pesos instead of using it to buy rugby. He promised to build them a house. True enough, the construction of the 3 story building started in April 2014. In Sept. 19, 2015, the structure which can accommodate 100 boys was finished. 

Joe Dean answered God’s call to give his all for God’s precious abandoned lost children. Today, the caring center on no. 9 Mines street, Project 6, QC, feeds thousands of kids, sends about 500 to school, and has brought them all back to the love of the Father. 

Today, Joe Dean is working on making his dream of a farm for the children come to fruition. Nothing stops his enthusiasm to serve His big God. And God continues to supply what Joe Dean needs. If you would like to give your loaves and fishes, visit http://hecaresmission.com/ and help with school supplies, and other basic needs. I am sure there will be scraps left over for even more street children to be taken care of.