We all have a sense of longing for more. Even in the best of times we know there lingers, a sense of dissatisfaction deep within our soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for HIm with all your heart and with and all your soul.

In Acts 17, Paul says, From one man He made every nation of men, that they would inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.

So we seek God and learn He indeed is the One who truly satisfies. Isaiah 58 says, The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your need in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring who's waters never fail.

This blog is made up of reflections, that are to me, like dew drops in the garden. Things that spring from the pages of scripture and refresh my heart. Whispers, ideas, hope, inklings, inspiration, glimmers, breadcrumbs...all pointing me in the direction of my heart's true home which is the Lord.

Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His Presence] shall be my dwelling place. Psalm 23:6


Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Broken Pieces


When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, Gather up now the fragments  (the broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted. So accordingly they gathered them up, and they filled twelve [small hand] baskets with fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves.       John 6:13

 More lessons from lingering on the hillside with Jesus.  
From their "not enough", they were instructed to gather the leftovers so they would not be wasted. Leftovers! 5 loaves, 2 fish and 5,000 hungry people. Jesus' life in and through us is so amazing that from our "not enough" He gives us more than what we started with. This is only possible through the Hands that created something from nothing. Creator. Life giver. Life sustainer. 

 Where do I go with this? I can only marvel that I come to Him hungry and needy. I clamor for His attention. Desperate at times. I lay everything down, at His feet. My little loaves. My few fishes. As best I can anyway. This is what I have. That's it. Not much. It never seems enough. 

 Yet He has things in mind. Always. Good things. It may not feel like that in the crucible of the challenges of life. But looking back I can always see how He multiplied nothing and got something. I always have pieces to pick up from my brokenness. A basketful.

 Today as I read in the Psalms, I came upon a verse that used to be a prayer. A heartfelt prayer for someone I deeply love who was in trouble. Someone who was lost in a world of hurt. Reading that verse I realized that this verse is now a memorial. It is a remembrance of God doing something incredible. It was a miracle. The miracle of His intervention. The miracle of new direction,  new life and hope. Not an overnight thing but something of great substance. Something that has born fruit over time. Overflow. A basketful of leftovers, broken pieces being used for the glory of God.

 That is what God does. He takes our lives, our broken pieces and makes them more. When we take the time to recount what we learned, how we grew through our trials and most of all how He was with us always, we can see that we end up with so much more. Our souls are enlarged. More of His life is formed in us as we have learned little by little to live His way. 

 Our pain is not squandered. Only in His Hands, is this possible. He can create abundance out of our losses, our heartache, our trials. The pain is never wasted if we surrender it to Him.

 Lord help me see what You have done in my life. To see the basket FULL of Your grace in my life. The big things yes but more, help me see the little things. The daily miracles, the moments of grace tucked in to the corners of my day. I thank You, that with You, all things are possible. With You there is  overflow. More than enough. Abundance.






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1 comment:

  1. JyllApril 2, 2015 at 9:21 PM

    You have such a beautiful gift, my friend. Your interpretation and explanation of scripture moves my heart so deeply. "I thank my God for every remembrance of you"

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