Today I'm joining the Five Minute Friday linkup, led by Kate Motaung.
This week's word is MORE.
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In Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, a destitute young boy named Oliver lives in an orphanage, where he and the other boys are treated harshly and unkindly. At one point, Oliver has just finished eating the tiny ration of thin gruel that is portioned out to all the boys. Then he gets up and does the unthinkable:
He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:
'Please, sir, I want some more.'
From the reaction he gets, you would think he had declared his intention to bomb the place. The headmaster and other overseers of the orphanage are shocked and instantly plan to get rid of Oliver, declaring that any boy who would dare to ask for more is a budding criminal:
"That boy will be hung," one of them says. "I know that boy will be hung."
I'm glad that God isn't like those stingy, legalistic headmasters. In Ephesians 3:20, it says God does "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."
He is a God of abundance, not scarcity. A God of more.
He is a God of abundance, not scarcity. A God of more.
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Beautiful post, Jeannie! And so true.
ReplyDeleteHave to admit, though, the first time I heard that line from "Oliver Twist", I was in my 20s, and I thought the kid said, "Please, sir, I want Samoa."
And I thought, me too, kid. Me too.
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/04/your-dying-spouse-303-give-me-lord-what.html
That is SO great, Andrew. Thanks for the laugh!!
DeleteLeave it to Andrew to make us laugh!!! Love that guy. Great post, Jeannie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan - I loved Andrew's pun too!
DeleteThat song from the musical was the second one that came to my mind- I wrote about the first one! I'm glad that we don't have to be fearful as we approach God to ask, that we can be confident that he longs to give us more than we could ever have imagined. Loved Andrew's comment too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming by, Lesley.
DeleteHi Jeannie! Thanks for reminding us that He is a God of more! So much more!! (FMF #47)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy - so glad you came over today. :-)
DeleteThat song popped into my head last night too. Loved your take on this prompt. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joyce - same to you!
DeleteI'm so glad that God isn't like those headmasters either. I'm so glad God is a God of abundance and not scarcity. I'm in the 50 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for that, Tara - have a good weekend.
DeleteYes, Jeannie. God is a God of MORE. Isn't that such a contrast to how we tend to live, and how we sometimes think of Him. I'm glad He never condemns us for wanting more, even when we may be a bit misguided in what we ask for more of (NOT saying Oliver was!). Great perspective on this word!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Jeanne: I always enjoy hearing from you. Have a good weekend.
DeleteJeannie ... thanks for the gentle reminder that God is there, waiting with arms wide open, desiring to give us more more more of who He is and what He offers.
ReplyDeleteAmazing what He can say through us in all of 300 seconds, isn't it.
It is, Linda! Thanks so much for coming by to read.
DeleteHi, Jeannie, thank you for visiting my Five Minute Friday post. It was my first time participating in the party, and it was a real treat to have you pop by and read my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI love the verse you are referencing here. It's one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. Yes, God certainly gives exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what we could ask or think.
Blessings on your day,
Patti @ Joy in the Middle
Thank you Patti - great to connect with you and I hope to see you at FMF again soon!
DeleteBeautiful post, Jeannie. I am also thankful for our exceeding, beyond what I can imagine, generous Father.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by to read and comment - I appreciate it!
DeleteThe way that scene came across in the musical Oliver captured the astounding indignation of the adults. I'm glad God desires we ask for more of his blessings.
ReplyDeleteThat's what strikes me about the scene in both the musical and the book: the sheer effrontery of a small boy asking for more food. Imagine? It makes me think of the concept of "gaslighting" -- making you think you must be crazy to even consider such a thing. SO different from God, who knows what we need before we even ask. (BTW I think that may be the first time I've ever used the term "sheer effrontery," so I'm a little bit proud. :-) )
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