The Twelve had a great campaign of preaching. healing, and signs and wonders. Then immediately, they failed their next challenge: the feeding of the 5,000 [Mark 6:34-52].  Here's a reflection:

So when Jesus said, “What shall we do?

"Can you see the people are hungry?”

The disciples immediately responded
With their calculator, they were ready:

“Ahem, postpone the project, Lord,"
"Please  -  send them away.”
“Cut our losses, we humbly advise - "
"O, we're just helping you save face.”

Ah, it’s not about what we have, is it?

But obeying all God says.

Not “delegation” but “dependence”;
Not “let’s be practical” - but “let’s pray.”

To do well in ministry, use "the towel" -
Your "titles" are good only in your offices;
Forget show-and-tell, bend down, pray,
Surrender, serve, share your five loaves and two fishes.

The Question We Must Ask Everyday

Reflections from Paul’s conversion encounter with Jesus and testimony from Acts 22

Saul, born in Tarsus, knew all the answers,

Gamaliel’s A-Star* pupil had only one ambition –

“Stop Jesus’ disciples – get them out of my sight!”

Until God confronted him in bright shining light.

“Saul, Saul,” the Lord asked, “why do you persecute me?”

And his eyes were opened the day he couldn’t see.
He had only one question but it forever changed his life,
Got him into God’s plan: the good, perfect, and wise.

“What shall I do, Lord?” That’s what he asked.

"What shall I do, Lord?" Here's how you and I start;
Each day, every day, humbly ask the Master,
Then lay down our A-Star* plans, and wait for His answer.

MARGIN

MARGIN
“Margin, the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits . . . .” Richard A. Swenson

Today. Put back the margin in your life.

Walk. Slowly.
Life’s about the moments and relationships,
Not simply getting from A to B.

Do. Less.
But do it well, with all your might.
With great joy. Do it right.

Don’t. Check. Your. Messages.
Look at me when I'm talking to you.
See? I’m here. I'm not virtual. I’m Real.

Delay. On. One. Decision.
Here's a tip: Pause before you answer.
Pray before you "enter."

Holiness. Is. Wholeness.
Sleep seven hours. Stop at the florist. Take a walk
Have time for people. Be kind to yourself. Love God.

Today. Put back the margin in your life.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD?

Reflection on Mark 10:17-18: “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? . . . .’”

WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD?

Why do you call me “good” –
When you hide your dreams from me?
And zip up tiny little pockets in your heart -
Surely you don’t think I can’t see?

Why do you call me “good” –
And make for yourself those secret plans?
Why announce to the world, “I want God’s will” –
But crave the nods and praise of man?

Why do you call me “good” –
But need so much control?
Why toss in bed, dreaming of the bigger and better,
Losing friends, lovers, your own soul? 

Why do you call me “good”
When I can't be your “one thing” and “best”;
If you want me to be that "good” in your life,
Take off that mask, let's talk, surrender, . . . rest.

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.

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.

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.