"Stick on the Ground"

Just a stick on the ground,

And then heard the sound,

Of the Lord who said, now, pick it up,

Then in Moses’ hand,

Parted seas to dry land,

And the Lord filled all Israel’s cup.

Just a rock by a stream,

Lay in wait, so it seems,

Till the Lord said, now, weapon up,

Then God’s stone in a sling,

Downed a giant, raised a king,

And the Good Lord filled young David’s cup.

Just a prayer in the den,

Full of lions back then,

Till the Lord said, now, pray it up,

Then the Lord shut their mouths,

And safe all night somehow,

And the good Lord filled old Daniel’s cup.

Just a man and a fish,

And a storm and a wish,

Till the Lord said, now pick him up,

Threw him overboard,

In the fish heard God’s word,

And the good Lord filled full Jonah’s cup.

Just dry bones in the vale,

And no one could tell,

Till He spoke to the wind to blow up,

Came a rattle and roll,

Then an army foretold,

And the Lord filled Ezekiel’s cup.

Heavy smoke in the room,

Seraphim fly and zoom,

Red-hot coal off the altar picked up.

Then touched the man’s lips,

Now you’ll go on God’s trips,

And the Lord filled Isaiah’s cup.

Just some men in a boat,

But soon they would tote,

Their fear as wind blew the waves up.

Jesus walked on the storm,

Pete jumped out of the norm,

And the Lord filled old Simon’s cup.

Just a lunch in a sack,

Couldn’t take up the slack,

Till the Lord said, hand it on up,

Fish and loaves in His hands,

Jesus showed that God can,

If you hunger, no doubt fill your cup.

Just a tomb in the ground,

They laid Jesus down,

God said that He’d raise Him up,

And on the third day,

The stone rolled away,

Jesus rose to fill everyone’s cup.

Just a cowboy it seems,

Lost without any dreams,

But Jesus said cowboy on up,

Grace is stronger, you see,

Than our old injury,

His Spirit will splash over your cup.

“‘But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish!’ they answered. ‘Bring them here,’ He said.” (Matthew 14:17-18, NLT)

The point of this poem is a theme that runs through the entire Bible. It’s simply that what may appear to be small and insignificant becomes large and life-changing when placed in God’s hands. The people were hungry when Jesus told His disciple to feed them. All they saw was what they didn’t have, just one little boy’s lunch. But Jesus saw something that could be used to feed them all- the original happy meal! And after everyone was full, twelve baskets of leftovers were collected, one for each disciple who didn’t think it possible. If all we think about is what we don’t have, our expectations will remain low concerning what God wants to do. But if we give God what He asks for, no matter how small, miracles can happen and something big can come from almost nothing at all. God is in the multiplying, miracle-working business. Raise your expectation and give Him what you have…

Lord, we give You the little we have so that You may accomplish all You intend, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Alfredo Rodriguez, alfredoartist.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Alfredo, and God bless you.