Friday, April 26, 2013

COUNTING & NUMBERS

REFLECTION ON I Chron 21, when David displeased God by counting his people.


What is wrong with David numbering His people? Wasn’t he just organizing, keeping his accounts? But it displeased God. First there’s the motive: in counting his strength, he was saying, “Look at me. I did it.” And there’s the pride. You see, David’s success did not come from his strength, it came from his submission to God. David’s secret to winning was not in fighting well, but fully trusting in God. His worth was not in his power, possession or people; but in the provision and protection of God.

I wonder, I wonder, what we are counting today?
Grades? Height? Votes? Facebook friends? Take home pay?
Is our worth measured by the district number of our home?
Or the size of our car, TV, hi-fi, garden, stocks we own?

But in counting we compare and compete – O what a curse!
Keeps us moving - homes, jobs, continents – even worse;
We pass the curse on and say: “Son, you need more tuition!”
Drain our kids’ childhood dry – with what we call enrichment.

We count calories and forget how to enjoy a meal,
Analyse food content to death – and every conversation kill;
Rush around to stop time when we learn to count wrinkles,
Lay still to count sheep, and forever lost that sparkle.

Lose friends and lovers, keeping account of their shortcomings –
While counting what we don’t and can’t have, we miss Jesus’ teaching –
“Seek first God’s kingdom,” He says, “let tomorrow be.”
“I number the hair on your head, don’t forget, you can lean on Me.”

Today count – only your blessings – look who’s in your life?
Stop and smell the flowers, they won’t stay, be wise.
One more thing, number your days, remember how you began,
He’s already taken care of you this far, He’ll do it again, and again.



Thursday, April 25, 2013

DOING RIGHT OR RIGHTEOUSNESS

The ark represents the presence of God. But by I Samuel 4, it became a "secret" to success. So the Philistines stole it. But it gave them nothing but trouble so they returned it, and it remained in the home of Abinadad, a Levite, for 20 years. In I Chron 13, David decided to take it back to Jerusalem and here's the story:

When David was crowned, he said,
“I can’t bear the sight -
“Of the Ark being away for 20 years,
"We must set things right!”

“Bring it home, it belongs here!”
He told his captains and leaders,
The thing looked so right
In the eyes of the people (v 4).

The king spared no expenses,
Even designed a new cart,
Never mind that God had said,
“Only Levites carry the Ark.” (I Chron 15:13)

So it failed, someone died,
And three sober months later,
David did it again, but in God’s old-fashioned way,
And gained His complete approval.

Do you aim to do God’s will
But say, “Let’s be practical, get a cart”?
The cart of worldly wise and convenience,
Of trends, compromise, short-cuts?

God doesn't accept our “rights” without righteousness –
This you must know;
Without His blessings, our great and noble
Are but fuss, frustration, at best a big show.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

ON MISSING OUT, A REFLECTION ON TIME


I fear missing out . . . on living
So I cram all my days in -
With meetings, goals, one more plan, dream, objective,
And in fearing, I miss.

I fear missing out . . . on too many things -
My youth, happiness, promises to keep,
There’s a world to see, castles to build,
And in fearing, I miss.

I miss living today,
In escaping the demons of my past;
And in fearing the future,
I forget to breathe and laugh.

I miss the rhythm and beats of life
When I fear the tyranny of time,
In the dread of being late, I sorely miss
The joy of listening to its chimes.

Monday, April 1, 2013

whatever your might be and might have

Monday March 29, 2013

REFLECTIONS ON THE GENEALOGY FROM ADAM TO DAVID IN I CHRONICLES 1-4
Might only be a name
In the span of human history –
But all just the same
Each left a legacy.
Might have entered the race,
Not equal in opportunity,
But all just the same,
Each became a memory.

Might come last like David,
Might come first like Esau.
Like Ruth, might find love in a hostile land,
Or like Tamar, not find love at all.
Might have been Moses, whose place was the palace,
Might have been Elijah, groomed in the wild,
Like Jeconiah, the king, born again in prison,
Or Daniel, the prophet, who won in exile.

For they dared to dream, they all woke up,
They chose, they fought, they loved, they listened,
Saw their time and chance when time and chance came,
Said, “Yes,” said, “No,” made the right decisions.
So these don’t decide your legacy or memory –
Might be ups, downs, shame or smarts;
All just the same, you write the conclusion
With faith, courage, following after God’s heart.

love the ocean - God made it for Himself

About Me

In the Old Testament in the Bible, there was a man named Jacob who "wrestled with God and man." He wouldn't let God go until God answered his prayers. God admired that and renamed him Israel, "the one who fought or wrestled and prevailed". He fought with man--his inner man--and conquered his own weaknesses. He's my hero. He is what I hope God and man see me to be.