Why say grace?

Hi guys!

Just to clarify things said during the briefing by Reuben, we'll be using this blog as a Pre-Youth Day Activity, as we ponder upon the meaning of the theme '饮水思源'.

So as we go on during these week, we'll be posting stuff for you guys to do and think about.

For today, we'll begin with thinking about something we have been doing for a long time:
Praying before our meals.

Often, when we see our food in front of us, we might be tempted to immediately tuck in, but we'll be reminded to pray and thank God for the food. Then this might come into our mind: why do i thank God for my food?

Sometimes when we stay in our comfort zone for too long, we fall in the danger of taking things for granted. We see the news about people in Africa, and even some of the neighboring countries such as Cambodia, where poverty is widespread, with some just living on water.


Statistics from The World Bank in 2001 shows that 1.1 billion people had consumption levels below $1 a day and 2.7 billion lived on less than $2 a day. The proportion of the developing world's population living in extreme economic poverty fell from 28 percent in 1990 to 21 percent in 2001. Looking at the period 1981-2001, the percentage of the world's population living on less than $1 per day has halved. Can anyone imagine living on $1 a day? What can we possibly buy with $1 these days.. its like one nugget (30cents) each for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

For more details, check out the link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty

Thus, we need to think about all that we have and where it all comes from.
In the bible, there are many examples of bible characters needing, and God provided them with what they needed.

Exodus 16 & 17 - Moses brought out the Israelites out of Egypt and they complained about lack of food and water. God provided them with manna and quail and water from the rock.

1 Kings 17:1-6 - Elijah is in hiding while a famine and drought takes place; God sends ravens to feed him and a spring for his water source.

As we pray for our food to be clean and nourishing to our body, let's remember the people who prepared them, and more importantly, those who do not have a ready access to food and water.

Matthew 6:25-34 tells us not to worry as God cares for the birds of the air and lilies of the field, how much more will He provide for us, His children?

Therefore the homework for all is that when we have our meals, let's take time to pray and really thank God for all we have, acknowledging Him, the giver of all.
Write in your journals, which you'll be starting, your thoughts on remembering the people in poverty as you pray for your food.

With that, please add comments on your thoughts to this post too.

God bless and have a great week!