God’s Bird Table!

The birds will always go to a bird-table that’s well supplied with food. It’s a simple law of the garden – no food, no birds! In just the same way the crowds were wanting to follow Jesus, wherever He went, because what He said and did provided food that both fed the soul and healed the body. The people had seen and heard what Jesus did. They were hungry for more of His life-transforming reality. His was a good bird-table!

Today is our birthday, and we are celebrating! Exactly thirty-five years ago today, we walked into Ellel Grange and the work that became known as Ellel Ministries began. We were full of faith and expectancy as well as nervous anticipation. We were completely unaware, however, of all that God had planned. But we were hanging on to a verse of Scripture that He had dramatically brought to my attention – Luke 9:11. This became the foundation for our Healing Retreats. It’s the second half of the Scripture I have chosen for today, where we read that Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and then healed those in need.

This was what the Lord had shown us we were to do. Love people by welcoming them – make them feel valued and cared for. Then teach them the principles of living in the Kingdom of God - such as forgiveness, both for our own sins and forgiving others. And finally pray for Jesus to heal their broken hearts. It didn’t seem much on which to base the whole future of the ministry – welcome, teach the Kingdom and then pray for healing. It seemed almost too simple. But thirty-five years later we are still doing it, in all our centres around the world. Why? Because on thousands of Healing Retreats, this is what has proved to be the food which attracts the people to God’s bird table. It’s the ‘party food’ which never fails to satisfy and bring God’s blessing and God’s healing.

The 31st October is also Halloween, a festival of darkness and evil intent. Isn’t it extraordinary that it was on this day that God raised up a ministry that celebrates Jesus, the Light of the World, whose intent is to bring Light and Life into the hearts of men and women? And He is still feeding the hearts and minds of those who come to Him with this life-transforming truth. Today, we are celebrating His faithfulness as we look back with great thanksgiving for all that He has done. Jesus has put the very best food on His ‘bird-table’. It never fails to satisfy the needs of mankind and we will never cease to thank Him for the simple truths that He taught us through Luke 9:11 – welcome, teach and heal.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that the food you give us always satisfies and that the simple truths of the Gospel never cease to change lives. Help us today, on this day of birthday celebration, to remember with thanksgiving all the things that You have done in our lives - and resolve to make ourselves available to You, as those who will never cease to share this precious ‘party food’ with those who, in their need, come to You for healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.