Thanking God for Empty Plates

During a time when orphans lived on the street, or in miserable workhouses in England, like Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, George Müeller built five large orphan homes, and took in, fed, clothed, educated and cared for more than 10,000 orphans in his lifetime.

One morning the housemother of one of the orphanages said to Müeller, "The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat.” Müeller asked her to take the children into the dining room and have them sit down at the tables that were set with empty plates and empty mugs.

Müeller prayed. He thanked God for the food, knowing He would provide for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Müeller, he said, "last night I couldn’t sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked fresh bread for the children."

Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He wanted to give the milk to the children so he could empty his cart and repair it.

Müeller said, “I believe God has heard my prayers. He will make it manifest in His own good time that He has heard me.”

You may not own a bakery or a dairy, but you can help me feed hungry children, women and men today at the Mission here on Skid Row.

Blessings,

Willie Jordan