Nothing Wasted
“Gather up the leftover pieces
so that nothing will be lost.”
John 6:12 (NASB)
What comes to your mind when you think of the word “leftovers?” For most of us recycled food from a previous meal is probably our first thought. And usually, we surmise that the leftovers are not nearly as tasty, desirable, or valuable as the original meal or product. Read Scripture, however, and you’ll find that God not only cares about the pieces of our lives, but He often uses them to make something beautiful. Prostitutes, tax collectors, and paralytics were all part of the least and last in Israel, yet they became beautiful eyewitnesses who testified that Jesus Christ is who He claims to be.
Gathering broken pieces and cultivating stewardship were sacred echoes that converged several times in my life last week. God met me in my ordinary and displayed His extraordinary.
Big Oak Ranch specializes in gathering broken pieces. I had the privilege of touring Big Oak Ranch’s (BOR) ASCEND complex and learning about that aspect of their ministry. Big Oak’s mission over the last fifty years has been to bring the Gospel to abused, abandoned, and neglected children through the family structure they desperately need. CEO Brody Croyle writes, “Those children are our why.” The ASCEND program is designed to provide a support system and bridge the gap between high school and adulthood. It is spiritual, professional, and personal life preparation for the young adults of Big Oak Ranch.
To be considered for ASCEND, a BOR student must apply and be accepted into the program. He must either be pursuing certification in a technical program (such as HVAC, welding or plumbing); enrolled in a two-year associate degree program; or pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree. Each student must also hold a part-time job; maintain their grades; attend a local church; and participate in weekly basic life skills training. These classes cover a variety of essential life skills such as changing a tire, balancing a checkbook, and writing a resume. Students chose their own pathway program and make a one year commitment each year. Whatever pathway is chosen, students who complete the ASCEND program exit with a job skill and are debt free. Currently there are fifteen young adults in the ASCEND program with ten additional students coming next fall.
Joining my church’s Flower Guild was one of the best decisions I ever made. Through the years, my most important lessons from the Guild haven’t been about flowers, but about stewardship, community, fellowship, service, and mentoring.
Saturday morning was a stewardship lesson. Last week after Sunday evening’s worship service, our team took James Bruce’s memorial arrangement apart, gave the flowers a fresh cut, and placed them in our flower coolers. Sometime during the week, a recently deceased church member’s family also donated her funeral arrangements so that the flowers could be repurposed and used for our shut-in or flower ministry.
Saturday morning our February team had no idea what our final altar arrangement would look like. We just knew we had leftovers to make something! James Bruce’s arrangement provided green Bells of Ireland, white hydrangeas, Gerber daisies, and white roses. The funeral leftovers provided large white lilies, soft pink roses, mini pink carnations, and various greenery. We finished our new arrangement without using one new flower! Our leftovers cost us nothing except our time. Much like Jesus’ miracle with the young boy’s loaves and fishes in feeding the 5000, we “gathered up the pieces that nothing will be lost.” (John 6:12)
When we took our arrangement into the sanctuary, our Worship Pastor was preparing for Sunday’s service. Pastor John asked if he could pray a prayer of blessing over our arrangement saying, “You ladies do with sight, what it’s my job to do with sound! When I come into the worship center at 6:15 on Sunday mornings, these flowers are my only friend!”
Our leftovers weren’t just blessing us; God was using them to bless others.
Later that afternoon a dear friend came by and brought me her first bouquet of daffodils from her garden. Miss June was James Bruce’s Special Connections Sunday School teacher for over twenty years. She understands broken pieces.
“I saw this and immediately thought of you,” June said.
Inside a beautiful box was a cup that read, “He takes the broken pieces and makes them beautiful.”
God specializes in using leftovers and broken pieces. Abandoned children, flowers, and the broken pieces of grief and special needs parenting are all redeemed, restored, and used when placed in God’s hands. In God’s economy, nothing is ever wasted when it’s given to Him.
What broken pieces or leftovers do you have that need to be given to God?