Pouring

 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.  

Blessed

As I was preparing for a weekend teaching, I came across an interesting study conducted by Duke University.  They sought to discover the modern sources of stress...what makes people’s blood pressures rise and their tempers flare?   The results were quite surprising.   As you go through the list... if you identify with one of  their reasons... take a minute and read the Bible verse below it.   God hasn’t designed us to carry so much pressure... and He gives us His words and promises to help counter it.  

According to Duke University, what are the main causes of today’s stress?  What does the Bible have to say about how to handle each of them?

#1:  Suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.

What the Bible says to do:  “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”  Mark 11:25

#2:  Living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.

What the Bible says:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

#3:  Wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. 

What the Bible says to do:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

#4: Withdrawing and becoming reclusive during periods of emotional stress.

What the Bible says to do:  “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:25

#5:  Indulging in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal.

What the Bible says:  “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”  - 1 Peter 5:10

#6:  Rejecting basic virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty

What the Bible says to do: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Philippians 4:8

#7:  Expecting too much of yourself. 

What the Bible says:  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  Romans 3:23

#8:  Becoming self-centered.

What the Bible says to do:  “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  Philippians 2:3-4

Remember, no matter what the world throws at you... the Bible has an answer. 

You weren’t meant to carry as much stress as you do.  It’s time to make a change.

Are you ready?

Today… if the world knocks you down to your knees... remember, that’s the best place to pray.  Stay there... turn to your Heavenly Father... and let Him know what hurts.  Leave your problems with Him... and resist the temptation to run back over and pick them up.  He is big enough to shoulder what you’re struggling with and loving enough not to give them back to you. 

Pray more 

Stress less

Breathe easier

Live healthier

Give the glory to God.   

You were meant to be blessed not stressed. 

Upside and Cost

The other day, I read an article about the diet soft drink, “Coke Zero”... it talked about how pleasantly surprised people were to discover how close to real coke it actually tasted.  The story said that many loved that they could have the benefits and great taste of a refreshing coke without the guilt of the calories.  

I was thinking about this when I ran across this scripture from Mark 8:34 - Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me"  A challenging verse...but Jesus makes it very clear what He requires to be a disciple.   I meet many who are Christ followers... some want God’s blessings and provision but don’t want the obedience and sacrifice He requires.  They want the taste without the calories... the upside without the cost.  If we are going to walk with Him... we can’t leave our cross laying on the ground.  Let’s commit today to pick it up, and follow Him with our whole heart...  When we do... life gets so much sweeter.