GOSPEL READING: Matthew 14:13-21
Sunday August 2, 2026
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed the more than five thousand people. Many consider this the miracle.
But perhaps a miracle also was the offering willingly of the loaves and fish, which Jesus eventually blessed to feed the five thousand.
We often consider ourselves as poor materially, not having enough wealth or resources to live comfortably according to our desires.
In a way, perhaps that is God's plan of protecting us from our selves, from ego & pride, which if left unchecked leads us to a path towards our own destruction and damnation.
In the Gospel, a critical image is when the little resources/food (the 5 loaves and 2 fish) they had were put in Jesus' hands. That is when these were amplified by God's grace. For He is the One in charge, not us.
Perhaps whatever offering we put in Jesus' hands, however small but given willingly by a generous heart, can be amplified exponentially and limitlessly by God's grace to be shared to others. We are merely instruments of His grace.
What have we offered and put in Jesus' hands lately?
Do we fully trust in His grace and providence?
His greatness, abundance, and generosity are limitless.
Let us then put all that we have in Jesus' hands. Let us fully trust in His grace and providence. Let us be willing & generous instruments of His grace for others. --ZBT--
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From Zander in The Philippines:
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 11:25-27
Wednesday July 15, 2026
Blessed are the little ones
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
Jesus thanks the Father, for it is the will of the Father to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom to the little ones, to the innocents, to the childlike. For they fully trust in the Father.
Not to the wise, intelligent, or learned ones. Normally, the learned ones have a high sense of self-esteem and pride.
Instead of praising God and giving credit to God for the revelation, they will give credit to themselves and their intelligence for arriving at such insights and revealed truths.
The ego seeks self-glory.
The little ones do not seek glory, but rather give honor & praise.
They receive God's revelations with humility, awe, and wonder.
Not with a closed, scheming, or selfish mind. Nor with a proud heart.
May we be like the little ones in learning our faith. May we grow in awe and wonder to the revelations of God. May we give Him praise and glory always. --ZBT--
A stranger walked up to a 16-year-old busking at a Phuket market and asked a simple question: can I help you?
That moment, it turns out, is why Nene Royal ended up on the America's Got Talent stage.
Speaking on Thai talk show Hone Krasae this week, Nene and her father Narong Amloy finally explained how a girl playing for tips at Naka market got a shot at the biggest talent show on the planet.
Her dad says an American man came and sat watching her play. Afterwards he approached them and asked whether he could help, whether he could act as her coordinator for everything, and what her dream actually was. They told him: America's Got Talent.
He flew home. Then he came back with a suggestion. Make an audition clip and send it to me, and I will pass it on.
So father and daughter made one. Silence. They made another. Silence again. By the fourth and fifth attempt, with no reply, they gave up and stopped.
Then AGT got in touch. They wanted to see the clip again. Fix it and make it better, came the note. So the pair sat down together, reworked it and sent it back.
And then, silence again.
What happened next is the part that gets you. The American didn't email. He got on a plane, flew back to Phuket, picked up Narong and Nene in his car, and told them face to face that she was in. Her dad broke down in tears.
He never charged them a baht. He also helped cover the travel and flights that made the trip possible.
We still don't know his name. Nobody has published it, and the family have only ever described him as the American man who offered to help.
The rest is history. Nene sang The Cranberries' "Zombie" on the AGT stage, took four yeses, and the clip has since passed 100 million views on the show's TikTok.
She's had other quiet backers too. That vintage 1970s Ibanez she plays was a gift from a fan in Denmark. And this week the Prime Minister welcomed her to Government House, with the government pledging to help fund her next round.
But it started with a stranger at a market, and one question.
Who was the person who believed in you before anyone else did?
From Pastor Sandy (Lyft'd)
DON’T GIVE UP
If you have had a bad day, forgive yourself and do better tomorrow.
If you knew beyond a shadow of doubt that your adversity was going to turn into a glorious victory, would you give up? –Jerry Savelle
Whatever you may be facing or experiencing right now in your life we encourage you to go through it and DON’T GIVE UP! Make a HABIT of not giving up.
No matter how bad the condition of your life and your mind, DON’T GIVE UP! Regain your territory that has been stolen from you, even if it is a fraction at a time. Keep on keeping on.
This is what most successful people do quietly and regularly to stop from giving up:
Have a calm and constant routine, eliminate needless busy work, do what needs to be done today. Gradually turn obstacles around. Learn by stretching themselves. Go with intuition. Make tough decisions. Focus on a positive mindset. Create a vision board as a reminder. Keeps a personal notebook. Have mentors they consult. Welcome honest feedback and criticism. Keep pride in check.
“Motivation is what gets you started. HABIT is what keeps you going.” -Jim Rohn
Workshop Discussion: Overcoming Adversity and Cultivating Resilience
Introduction: Let's begin by reflecting on the powerful thought above from Jerry Savelle: “Don’t give up. Just because you had a bad day, forgive yourself and do better tomorrow. If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that your adversity was going to turn into a glorious victory, would you give up?”
Group Activity: Take a moment to think about a recent challenge you've faced. How did it make you feel? Did you find yourself wanting to give up? Now, consider this: If you knew that this challenge would eventually lead to a positive outcome, would you approach it differently? Share your thoughts with the group.
Discussion Prompt 1: Whatever you may be facing or experiencing right now in your life, we encourage you to go through it and DON’T GIVE UP! What are some specific situations where you've felt the urge to quit? What strategies have helped you push through? Let’s discuss how making a HABIT of not giving up can transform our lives. How do you define the habit of resilience in your own life?
Discussion Prompt 2: No matter how bad the condition of your life and your mind, DON’T GIVE UP! Regain your territory that has been stolen from you, even if it is a fraction at a time. Share with the group a time when you successfully reclaimed something that you had lost, whether it was a sense of peace, confidence, or control over a situation.
Workshop Exercise: Consider the habits of successful people: having a calm and constant routine, eliminating needless busy work, focusing on what needs to be done today, gradually turning obstacles around, and learning by stretching themselves. In small groups, discuss how you can incorporate one or more of these habits into your daily routine. What might be the impact of these changes? After discussing, create a personal action plan and share it with the group.
Discussion Prompt 3: How do you currently approach tough decisions? Do you rely on intuition? How do you handle criticism and feedback? Let’s explore how focusing on a positive mindset, using tools like vision boards, keeping a personal notebook, and consulting mentors can help us stay on track.
Closing Thought: As mentioned above, Jim Rohn wisely said, “Motivation is what gets you started. HABIT is what keeps you going.” Reflect on this statement.
What habits do you need to cultivate to ensure you don't give up, even when the going gets tough?
Final Reflection: As we wrap up, take a few minutes to write down one habit you commit to developing and one action you will take this week to reinforce that habit. Share it with a partner and check in with each other throughout the week for accountability.
Check this out: Loom video - https://www.loom.com/share/25d634f8601845079c9e6d9ef062cefc?sid=eeeafe3f-1c75-4389-bdf5-91baf0c931d2
From Pastor Sandy (Lyft'd)
DON’T GIVE UP
If you have had a bad day, forgive yourself and do better tomorrow.
If you knew beyond a shadow of doubt that your adversity was going to turn into a glorious victory, would you give up? –Jerry Savelle
Whatever you may be facing or experiencing right now in your life we encourage you to go through it and DON’T GIVE UP! Make a HABIT of not giving up.
No matter how bad the condition of your life and your mind, DON’T GIVE UP! Regain your territory that has been stolen from you, even if it is a fraction at a time. Keep on keeping on.
This is what most successful people do quietly and regularly to stop from giving up:
Have a calm and constant routine, eliminate needless busy work, do what needs to be done today. Gradually turn obstacles around. Learn by stretching themselves. Go with intuition. Make tough decisions. Focus on a positive mindset. Create a vision board as a reminder. Keeps a personal notebook. Have mentors they consult. Welcome honest feedback and criticism. Keep pride in check.
“Motivation is what gets you started. HABIT is what keeps you going.” -Jim Rohn
Workshop Discussion: Overcoming Adversity and Cultivating Resilience
Introduction: Let's begin by reflecting on the powerful thought above from Jerry Savelle: “Don’t give up. Just because you had a bad day, forgive yourself and do better tomorrow. If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that your adversity was going to turn into a glorious victory, would you give up?”
Group Activity: Take a moment to think about a recent challenge you've faced. How did it make you feel? Did you find yourself wanting to give up? Now, consider this: If you knew that this challenge would eventually lead to a positive outcome, would you approach it differently? Share your thoughts with the group.
Discussion Prompt 1: Whatever you may be facing or experiencing right now in your life, we encourage you to go through it and DON’T GIVE UP! What are some specific situations where you've felt the urge to quit? What strategies have helped you push through? Let’s discuss how making a HABIT of not giving up can transform our lives. How do you define the habit of resilience in your own life?
Discussion Prompt 2: No matter how bad the condition of your life and your mind, DON’T GIVE UP! Regain your territory that has been stolen from you, even if it is a fraction at a time. Share with the group a time when you successfully reclaimed something that you had lost, whether it was a sense of peace, confidence, or control over a situation.
Workshop Exercise: Consider the habits of successful people: having a calm and constant routine, eliminating needless busy work, focusing on what needs to be done today, gradually turning obstacles around, and learning by stretching themselves. In small groups, discuss how you can incorporate one or more of these habits into your daily routine. What might be the impact of these changes? After discussing, create a personal action plan and share it with the group.
Discussion Prompt 3: How do you currently approach tough decisions? Do you rely on intuition? How do you handle criticism and feedback? Let’s explore how focusing on a positive mindset, using tools like vision boards, keeping a personal notebook, and consulting mentors can help us stay on track.
Closing Thought: As mentioned above, Jim Rohn wisely said, “Motivation is what gets you started. HABIT is what keeps you going.” Reflect on this statement.
What habits do you need to cultivate to ensure you don't give up, even when the going gets tough?
Final Reflection: As we wrap up, take a few minutes to write down one habit you commit to developing and one action you will take this week to reinforce that habit. Share it with a partner and check in with each other throughout the week for accountability.
Check this out: Loom video - https://www.loom.com/share/25d634f8601845079c9e6d9ef062cefc?sid=eeeafe3f-1c75-4389-bdf5-91baf0c931d2
Today, my heart is filled with gratitude as I reflect on the journey of Daniel Hopes Foundation Group.
Since we started in 2016, our mission has always been about one thing: bringing hope, love, and support to orphans and vulnerable children. What began as a small step of compassion has grown into a journey of touching lives, sharing smiles, and reminding children that they are valued and not forgotten.
There have been challenges along the way, but every moment spent serving others has reminded us why we started. A childâs smile, a word of encouragement, and a simple act of kindness can bring hope and make a lasting impact.
We thank God for the strength, guidance, and opportunities to continue this mission. We are grateful for everyone who has supported us, prayed for us, and believed in the vision.
Our journey continues. Together, with love and compassion, we can keep making a difference in the lives of children who need hope the most.
Daniel Hopes Foundation Group â Bringing Hope, Touching Lives, Changing Futures.
#DanielHopesFoundation #EveryChildMatters #HopeForChildren #ServingHumanity #GiveHope #MakingADifference #TogetherWeCan
Meet the family of supporting young lives Araise hope children are uganda having over 70 children Kindly call for support through donations of Bible school materials sponsorship and more
All children belong to heaven
Welcome to "Supporting Young Lives" in Uganda.
Education sponsorship needed in our org 7
1. James 1:27 (NIV)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Saving Young Lives Uganda NGO is a community-based organization located in Bukonde Village, Bugiri District, Uganda, Africa. We are dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children in our community who are affected by poverty, neglect, and lack of parental care. Our mission is to provide essential support to children in need, including food, medical care, educational materials, and financial assistance, so they can have a safer and better future. Many children in our community are suffering due to high poverty levels and a growing population that families cannot adequately support. As a result, some children are left without proper food, education, healthcare, or protection. This affects their health, future opportunities, and overall well-being. Without support, many risk being trapped in a cycle of poverty We respond to these challenges by directly supporting vulnerable children through: Providing meals and basic nutrition support Offering access to medical care and health assistance Supplying school requirements such as books, uniforms, and materials Giving financial and social support where possible Working within the community to identify and assist children in need How others can help We welcome support from individuals, organizations, and partners through: Donations (money, food, clothes, or school supplies) Sponsorship of children’s education and welfare Partnerships with NGOs and community programs Volunteering time, skills, or resources Sharing our mission to raise awareness Together, we believe we can give vulnerable children hope, dignity, and a better future
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 6:7-15
Teaching about Prayer
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
PERSONAL REFLECTION:
The 'Our Father' is the Lord's Prayer. It is a complete prayer.
In it, we give praise and honor to God our Father.
We ask that God reigns in us, in all of us, as He reigns in heaven.
We surrender to His grace and provision.
We ask for His forgiveness and mercy, as we also forgive others.
And we ask for His protection from temptation and the evil one.
Let us pray this everyday, before we begin our day and as we end our day. Let us align and surrender our will to His will. Let us live a life of gratitude to our Creator, always thankful regardless of our circumstances, and be forgiving & merciful as He is merciful to us. --ZBT--
