Pour In

 A water bearer had two large water pots which he carried on either end of a pole slung across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, so every day as he carried water to his master’s house he arrived with one full pot and one only half full. This went on for two years. One pot was very proud of its accomplishments, while the imperfect pot was embarrassed at its failure. Its distress at being able only to accomplish half of what it had been made to do, resulted in its speaking one day to the water carrier.

"I am so ashamed," the pot said. "Why?" asked the carrier. "Because water leaks out all the way to your master’s house and because of my crack I’ve been only able to deliver half of the load." The water carrier looked kindly at the cracked pot and said, "As we return to my master’s house today, I want you to look at the beautiful flowers along the path."

The pot was a little cheered by the beauty he saw along the way. "Did you notice that the flowers were only on your side of the path?" the water carrier said.  “If your water hadn’t poured out, this beauty would not have occurred.  What you saw as deficiency, the flowers saw as provision.”

Pouring into others matters.  The Bible says it this way...

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  -  Ephesians 4:29b

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” - Hebrews 10:24

   God has called us to do many things while we are here on planet Earth.  One of our primary opportunities is to partner together with others on their journey to reach their God-potential.  You have people in your life right now that need you.  You are their encouragement... your presence brings them comfort... and they are counting on your friendship to help them bloom.   Make every effort to pour into them... be there for them in their times of trouble... and give them the reassurance that somebody really does care.  

Maybe you feel like the pot in today’s story.... broken... unusable...  You aren’t.  God has given you the ability to cheer someone up, carry someone’s burdens, brighten someone’s day, or to let them know that Jesus Christ...the true Living Water... can put flowers where there was once dry land.  When we remember this, and really do it.... we get the blessing and God gets the glory.  

You Aren't Alone

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  Proverbs 27:17

If you’re going to make it through the next day...week..month..year...you might need some help.  No...maybe I should rephrase that... you can’t do it alone.  I say all the time, “One is too small a number for greatness.”  You were wired together to lean on others for support when things get tough.  That’s our heart at Potential Church… to partner with you and connect you to others for success.  

If doing life with other people is a new idea to you… you aren’t alone.  Here are three thoughts to get you started.

First, find someone with a similar situation.  I believe that we go through life’s pains so that we can help others suffering in the future.  There is someone out there that has endured what you are going through... make the effort to find them. They could be as close as the chair next to you in church, involved in your connect group, or across the table at the family dinner.  When you do find them, commit to listening more than talking... writing down what’s important... making the necessary changes of thoughts or actions, and staying accountable... both to God and the person who is trying to help.  

Second, bring in some professional help.  Need some help sorting things out in your mind?  Enlist a Christian counselor.  Want to learn how to lose the extra weight?  Hire a trainer.  In a financial knot and resolve to get out?  Enroll in a class and get with a financial advisor.  The benefits are priceless.  They have worked with hundreds sometimes thousands of other people and their insight as a neutral third party will help greatly in your success.  Many people see seeking outside involvement as a weakness.  Getting help is NEVER a weak action... in fact... it demonstrates wisdom.  However, be vigilant in connecting with the right help... with Godly help.  You don’t want to feel like you’re making progress only to discover that you are traveling in the wrong direction!

Third, and most important, stay connected to God Himself.   If you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ... He not only wants to help... He’s reaching out His hand for you to take it.  How you might ask?  Right there in the Bible... page after page of life-steering wisdom just ripe for the reading.  He’s there through weekend teaching and worship... He’s there through the advice of a close Christian friend... He’s there when you get quiet and sit down to pray and listen.

You aren’t alone. 

Your situation isn’t unique to just you.

There are people who want to help you.

They genuinely care.

God cares even more than they do.

He’ll never leave you nor abandon you.

Want to get sharper?  Connect with God and others.  You’ll gain perspective, wisdom, confidence, and the ability to see problems for what they are:  temporary and seasonal.  

You’ve got this. 

Three Strands

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  Proverbs 27:17

One is too small of a number for greatness.  We simply weren’t created to do life alone.  When we try, things get unnecessarily difficult… and we miss out on the benefits of partnering with others to help us achieve goals, dreams, and ultimately our destiny. But how do we do this?  How can we better work with others to get us through the valleys that we face?

First, find a friend with a similar issue.  Hold each other accountable... post your running results to Twitter... pray with each other on the phone... compare notes or journal entries... whatever it takes to know that your behavior will be looked at and challenged.  

Second, bring in some professional help.  Need some help sorting things out in your mind?  Enlist a Christian counselor.  Want to learn how to lose the extra weight?  Hire a trainer.  In a financial knot and resolve to get out?  Enroll in a class and get with a financial advisor.  The benefits are priceless.  They have worked with hundreds sometimes thousands of other people and their insight as a neutral third party will help greatly in your success.

With these in place... your chance at being successful over the adversity you face will be much better.  

Remember, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Who are your three strands?  First God…then you… and then others.  But who?  I believe that God has specifically put people in your life for this purpose.  Who are they?  When you find them, be bold enough to include them in your circle.  And when you do, you’ll realize that the load you are carrying is lighter as a result.   Dare to partner with people to reach your God-given potential.  Connect.  Grow.  And very soon, you’ll find yourself out of the valley and overlooking a lifetime of joy, success, and blessing.  

Getting Help

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  Proverbs 27:17

If you’re going to make it through the next day...week..month..year...lifetime...you might need some help.  No...maybe I should rephrase that... you can’t do it alone.  In fact, you aren’t supposed to.  One is too small a number for greatness... and you were wired together to lean on others for support when things get tough.  When tough things happen, I suggest three helpers...

First, find someone with a similar situation.  I believe that we go through life’s pains so that we can help others suffering in the future.  There is someone out there that has endured what you are going through... make the effort to find them. They could be as close as the chair next to you in church, involved in your connect group, or across the table at the family dinner.  When you do find them, commit to listening more than talking... writing down what’s important... making the necessary changes of thoughts or actions, and staying accountable... both to God and the person who is trying to help.  

Second, bring in some professional help.  Need some help sorting things out in your mind?  Enlist a Christian counselor.  Want to learn how to lose the extra weight?  Hire a trainer.  In a financial knot and resolve to get out?  Enroll in a class and get with a financial advisor.  The benefits are priceless.  They have worked with hundreds sometimes thousands of other people and their insight as a neutral third party will help greatly in your success.  Many people see seeking outside involvement as a weakness.  Getting help is NEVER a weak action... in fact... it demonstrates wisdom.  However, be vigilant in connecting with the right help... with Godly help.  You don’t want to feel like you’re making progress only to discover that you are traveling in the wrong direction!

Third, and most important, stay connected to God Himself.   If you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ... He not only wants to help... He’s reaching out His hand for you to take it.  How you might ask?  Right there in the Bible... page after page of life-steering wisdom just ripe for the reading.  He’s there through weekend teaching and worship... He’s there through the advice of a close Christian friend... He’s there when you get quiet and sit down to pray and listen.

You aren’t alone. 

Your situation isn’t unique to just you.

There are people who want to help you.

They genuinely care.

God cares even more than they do.

He’ll never leave you nor abandon you.

Want to get sharper?  Connect with God and others.  You’ll gain perspective, wisdom, confidence, and the ability to see problems for what they are:  temporary and seasonal.  

You’ve got this.