My Four-Fold Prayer

Three items in their Ark they had
(I learned of one when just a lad –
The Ten Commandments cut in stone
I thought they were there all alone).

But item two which they got next
Concerned of their bread in wilderness
A piece of manna – saved their lives –
The jar reminds thus hope revives.

Their number three it was Aaron's rod
Which bloomed and blossomed on the sod,
Which other leaders' rods did not –
Which meant he won that sacred lot.

Of course the fight both then as now
Concerned “his leadership and a vow
To be their Priest without God's say”–
Once asked, he let God have his way.

God said, “Contenders listen up,
Lay out your rods, that is enough;
Then see what's there at morning dawn
The one that blossoms – he's the one.

“In other words, ‘Authority '
To do some task rests here with Me –
Once that is clear ‘Permission' lies
In will of mankind, always has.”

They learned next morning of God's way,
So kept reminder of that day;
Now our approach to leadership
Can rest with God not in our grip.

What we can't lose we need not grasp;
‘Permission' too – we need just ask –
If they say ‘no’, that's freedom's choice;
Thus God and man both have a voice.

Strange, now when we a journey take
Or stop a while, of rest partake,
Three aspects of community
Are still before us, clear to see:

Ten hockey panels make a rank
For tighter, faster, game I think;
Resource for hungry days He gives;
Assigned the tasks by which each lives.

Lord, I see sand beneath my feet
(Oasis here, not desert heat);
The journey stopped, I rest partake;
Cue to move on – for that I wait.

But still or moving, three things stand;
Beneath our feet the journey's sand
Requires of us those gracious gifts,
So end of journey is not missed.

Lord, yesterday was Word for me –
Bread in my wilderness indeed –
“Food take this day as coming week
Sustaining life, here in this heat.”

But others crave gift number three –
Desire intense their way to see;
Help them not grasp authority,
But wait their dawn, then blossoms see.

This week some start – ‘Identity '
To clarify (for Ministry);
Exciting times – desires fulfilled
By You – their purpose as You've willed.

Bless leaders as they teach and guide;
Each face their fears not run and hide;
Take on each challenge they confront;
Find symbols three in journey's trunk.

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