Grains of Sand

When Jesus began His public ministry, He asked the men He had chosen to become His inner circle to follow Him (John 1:43). Now, after the resurrection and just before His return to His Father, Jesus repeats the same instruction. The scene is Peter’s reinstatement to service after his denial of the Lord. “ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’ ” (John 21:19). Moments later, when Peter asked about someone else, Jesus repeated His instructions: “Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me’ ” (21:22). There is a challenge to these words. If they followed Him when they could see Him, touch Him, travel with Him, would they still follow Him when they couldn’t see Him, couldn’t touch Him, and traveled apparently alone to face the pressures and stresses of ministry? He had promised them the presence of the Holy Spirit, but humankind are prone to like their lea...

Okay, Lord, I could use an extra day so could you do another "Joshua" and make the sun stand still? … What's that you say? There is time enough to do everything You intended me to do in the amount of time You've already allotted? Are You sure? … No, I don't mean to doubt You, Lord, it's just that, well, there's just so much to do. … You mean to tell me that I might be doing stuff that isn't on Your agenda? … Oh, yes, I did see that quote on FACEBOOK. You mean it's true? … So the deal is if I concentrate on Your plans rather than mine, there will be enough time and the success rate is 100% AND, the sun WILL stand still if necessary? … Yes, I noticed that: " Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you " (Joshua 10:8, NSV). I noticed that Joshua marched all night to get to where he needed to be. … It was the night of a harvest moon so they could find their way? And You gave them enough st...

“ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven ” —Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV. As Spring awakens once more, I eagerly look forward to getting the balcony set up for warmer weather. I didn’t do very well with flowers last year. Being on the road frequently and not being around to water and tend didn’t do them much good. It was really hot last summer—unusual for this part of the world. If we are blessed with more normal temperatures this time around I may be able to go away and not come back to shriveled up greenery. We could still have a bit of winter left in us, but I have already rummaged through the storage locker and brought out a couple of pieces of balcony furniture. Before Abby and Lou get out there, I have to install some fencing in front of the balcony rail to prevent them from slipping through the bars and taking an unexpected tumble onto the ground below. I don’t want to find out if cats really can land on their feet and survive after a four ...

I think I used to be able to multitask. Either I was deceiving myself or, with the passage of time, I've lost some of the knack. Now, with two diverse ministries, both having within them other diverse ministries, I am finding keeping all the "balls" in my head much less in the air, is not easy. As I was reading the Scriptures this morning a phrase popped out of one of the psalms. David writes: " But my eyes are fixed on you, O sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge …" —Psalm 141:8, NIV. Although David is definitely not talking about multitasking, the phrase seems appropriate to my dilemma. In the midst of so many things to do, thoughts, ideas, tasks on hold, it's easy to get lost in the "trees" and not focus on the "forest" as the saying goes. David's thought reminds me that if I keep my eyes on the Lord, the SOVEREIGN Lord, he'll make sure that I get done what he wants done. The rest may not happen, but unless it contributes to...