And His disciples answered Him,

"How can we feed these people

   with bread here in this

                     desolate place?"

And He asked them,

    "How many loaves

           do you have?"

                  Mark 8. 4-5

(What in the world

  are we doing in this barren place?

  Did we take a wrong turn?

No, that's exactly why God

  strategically placed us here

to serve Him,

       love others,

and bring the name of Jesus here.

Desolate is not a barren place

      of despair and emptiness,

but an opportunity to be faithful,

fulfilling needs

           --visible or invisible--

     and changing the landscape.

Desolate says, "I can do nothing about this."

God says, "Good.  Because I can.

           Tie on your shoes.")

O LORD,

Open not just our eyes

   to see what is around us,

but enlarge our hearts

   that we know how to respond.

Bear Your fruit through us

    wherever we are

    and whatever we pursue

to nurture, sustain, and love

       others right into Your arms.

Where there is lack,

                You provide

      enough even for leftovers.

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