...and He said to them,

"If any would be first,

he must be last of all

           and servant of all."

                       Mark 9. 35

(Countercultural then,

radically countercultural now.

How can I approach this situation differently 

         because I know Christ?)

And suddenly looking around

they no longer saw anyone with them

                 but Jesus only.

                                  Mark 9. 8

(Seek not a prescribed answer,

nor an outcome of your own choosing,

           but seek God in this.

Follow Him through it.

No limitations in what

       God is already doing.)

As with a deadly wound in my body,

my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me continually,

           "Where is your God?"

                           Psalm 42. 10

(Others are always watching you,

           especially in adversity,

to see the hope of God in you,

because they are desperate to know

      if God is really true

and if He makes a difference in you.)

Blessed is he who considers the weak.

The LORD delivers him

                  in the day of trouble;

the LORD protects him 

                     and keeps him alive;

he is called blessed in the land;

You did not give him up

         to the will of his enemies.

The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;

   in his illness 

              You heal all his infirmities.

                            Psalm 41. 1-3

(The LORD is healer and redeemer.)

I waited patiently for the LORD;

He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He drew me up from the desolate pit,

      out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

      making my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the LORD.

                         Psalm 40. 1-3

(God is using this for His glory.

Even this.

Give God time to work

      in His timing

      and in His way.

He always has deeper purposes

            seamlessly woven.)

But immediately He spoke to them 

and said,

"Take heart,

           it is I;

have no fear."

                    Mark 6. 50

(He is with you.

Even in this unlikely, unexpected place

or season

         or strange and scary situation.

Fear just blocks out the light.

And the "what if's?" 

      keep us from recognizing Him.

Give God time to work.)

And now, Lord,

        for what do I wait?

My hope is in You.

                   Psalm 39. 7

(That on which I stake my life,

that of which

      is far more than I can imagine.)