Second Time Around

Matthew 14:17-20

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me", he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves of bread and the two fish and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketsful of broken pieces that were left over.

Reflection:

For many people leftovers are an intrinsic part of their meals. Often working parents will make a large pot of something and the purpose is to eat from it for a couple of days. Leftovers have become an American existence. When there is not much food, we can rely on our leftovers to give us nourishment. Many people have "pot luck" where they use leftovers to create a new meal. When we have leftovers that says that you had more than enough food to feed our family. Sometimes it may not look like enough but when it is time to serve the food you find that is more than enough.

As we look at our scripture we should get excited about leftovers. We should rejoice each time we pull out the Tupperware containers for the food: because that shows us that God supplied more than enough. Many years ago there was a song called The Second Time Around. In this song they declared that the second time around is better than the first time. The same is true with leftovers. Have you noticed that with certain foods the leftovers are better than the first time? That is because the seasonings have had time to sink in. The same is true for us. the first time we go through something but when we have hit the bottom, God talks to us, we hear and as we wake up for the second time things are better because God's Word was able to sink in us. When we look at our scripture I am sure that although the disciples had seen Jesus perform miracles, they were amazed when Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish and fed thousands and had leftovers. If we examine our scripture we see Jesus, who was trying to be alone after hearing about his friend, John the Baptist, being beheaded. But when the people heard they followed him. You see they wanted whatever blessing they could get; even if it was a left over blessing. When Jesus saw them he had compassion for them and healed their sick. Realizing the time Jesus, from five loaves of bread and two fish fed approximately 5000 and had leftovers. That should encourage someone who is in pain and going through feelings of loneliness and feeling as though they don't have enough. You will have more than enough food, friends, money and faith, when you lean on Jesus you will see things will be better the second time around.

The first time you tried things your way and that was how Satan wanted things to go. But now following Jesus he will have compassion on you and the second time around will be better than the first time. The second time you will not have just enough but because you walk with Jesus you will have more than enough. So follow Jesus and get out your Tupperware because your blessings will be abundant and there will be leftovers.

Be Blessed and Encouraged

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

In so many business and even personal circles, preparation is an important component to success. When heading to a board meeting, many top executives take the weeks and even days before the meeting to prepare and when the meeting occurs they are exhausted because of all the preparations. They approach the meeting with feelings of disgust in all they had to do to get ready that it is hard to show their softer side. They present their material, attempt to buy their investors by selling them dreams and then they work overtime to close the deal. Missing from this meeting is the interaction with the board members. In any good partnership, relationship is the most important element. The Bible shows us both sides of the coin, preparation without relationship and preparation and relationship in the lives of Martha and Mary Luke 10: 38-42.

Martha invited Jesus to the house that she shared with her sister Mary. After Martha had invited him they both got busy. Martha cleaned, cooked, set a “perfect” table, called all her friends and organized the troubles of her life so that she could welcome Jesus in. When He arrived Martha was still busy preparing for his visit that she lost sight of what was really important. After all, why did she invite him over? Was it to never spend time with him? She worked so hard that she forgot that what’s Jesus desires is relationship and the only thing she was relating to was what she thought was necessary for his visit. Now I am in no way saying that preparation isn’t important but you have to remember what and who you are preparing for. Now Mary had done her share of cleaning but when Jesus arrived she stopped and took up residence at His feet. Her focus shifted from preparation to relationship. Mary remembered that spending quality time with Jesus is necessary for receiving guidance, wisdom, and healing, and given that the town they lived in, Bethany was known as a place where the sick was cared for Mary wanted to get all that she could from the Master Healer. What vital information Mary was receiving that she could later use to care for sick people.

You can spend your whole life trying to clean up the mess you made of your life but you will never achieve complete cleanliness until you rest, as Mary did, at the feet of Jesus. While Martha had organized her troubles for Jesus, Mary was sitting in a posture to pour her troubles out (1 Peter 5:7). Martha was so disgusted with her sister that she thought surely Jesus will understand the necessity of preparation and tell Mary to help her but to her surprise, Jesus told her that Mary had it all right. Martha’s preparations only yielded her frustration. At the end of Jesus’ visit, all Martha had was dishes to clean, dusting and sweeping to do (the roads during this time were dusty roads), organized troubles and a broken heart. She never got to experience Jesus for herself. We can tell someone all about what Jesus has done for us but unless they experience Him for themselves they will never know personally what the Lord can and will do in their life. On this rainy “Hump Day” why don’t you prepare a place for the Lord then sit at His feet. Spending this quality He is sure to get you over the hump.

Many Blessings